Mira Bhayandar: In a significant step aimed at providing an efficient and safe alternate transport network to decongest traffic, the urban cable car project has been mooted for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) under the central government’s ambitious “Parvatmala Project” a National Ropeways Development Programme.
The proposal was tabled before the Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari by State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at a meeting held in New Delhi which registered the participation of transport ministers from across the country.
Statement Of State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik
“Gadkari ji has given an in-principle nod to launch the urban cable car project via ropeway in the MMR. After conducting an elaborate feasibility survey and examining challenges related to utility relocation, a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared soon. The project will not only help in minimising traffic congestion due to rapid urbanisation and increasing number of vehicles but will also reduce pollution levels,” said Sarnaik.
The project will either be implemented on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model or as a joint venture in collaboration with the central and state governments.
“Considering the increasing pressure on public transport services like road transport, railways, metro, the urban cable cars have become a necessity. Apart from this an integrated transport plan would be presented soon so that Mumbai Airport can be reached from different suburbs in the shortest possible time,” added Sarnaik.
Last year, the central government had announced plans to develop more than 200 projects at a cost of Rs.1.25 lakh crore with a ropeway length of over 1,200 kms across the country in the next five years under the National Ropeways Development Programme Parvatmala Pariyojana.
What Are Ropeways?
The ropeways equipped with aerial cabins (also known as gondolas) is a means of cable transport which is supported and propelled by cables from above. Consisting of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, the cable cars are mostly installed in hilly terrains and tourist destinations. However, the cable car project can prove to be a boon to urban areas.
