Parvatmala: Maharashtra Proposes 40 Ropeway Projects, Signs MoU With NHAI For Implementation

The National Highways Logistic Management Limited (NHLML) has partnered with the Maharashtra government to implement ropeways as part of the National Ropeway Programme 'Parvatmala'.

Last week, the Maharashtra Public Work Department and NHLML, a 100 per cent owned special purpose vehicle of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for infrastructure development, formalised their collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard.

NHLML is responsible for implementation of the ropeways projects.

The state government has put forward a total of 40 ropeway projects for consideration under the scheme. These proposals are mainly from Mumbai, Satara, Raigad, Nashik, Nanded, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, with an additional five projects from Pune.

Some of the proposal entail providing ropeway connectivity to major tourist destinations such as Sinhagad Fort, Rajgad Fort, Shivneri Fort, Darya Ghat, and Lenyadri Ashtavinayak at Junnar in Pune.

Among the 40 proposed projects, the state-owned NHLML has already initiated work on four ropeway projects, with a combined investment exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.

While, the detailed project report (DPR) of three projects — Rajgad fort in Pune, Matheran hill station and Mahad in Raigad district — are being worked out, bids have been invited to build a new ropeway from Brahmagiri to Anjaneri Hills in Trimbakeshwar at Nashik.

The 5.7-km-long Brahmagiri-Anjaneri Hills ropeway will connect both these important places atop the respective hills, which are separated by a distance of around 7 km.

MoU With NHLML

As per the scheme, NHLML has been mandated to implement feasible ropeway projects out of priority list of proposals submitted by the state governments.  

State governments are required to sign a MoU with NHLML for the development of ropeway networks. The MoU is expected to bring effective implementation, development, construction, operation and maintenance of the identified projects.

So far, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, have inked MoU with NHLML for construction of ropeways under the ambitious Parvatmala Yojana.