Parvatmala Pariyojana: Reconfiguring Urban Mobility through Ropeways

India will have its first aerial cable-car urban transit system for the public by May 2025. Under the #ParvatmalaPariyojana, the 3.75 km long Kashi Ropeway is projected to carry nearly 1 lakh passengers per day.

At a collective cost of ₹1.25 lakh crore, 200 such projects have been identified under the National Ropeways Development Programme. With nearly 30 projects underway, the Union government aims to enhance connectivity in difficult terrains, reduce commute time, & decongest urban areas that lack conventional mass transit systems. While Prayagraj is set to have the country’s longest ropeway across a river, the Rajasthan government plans to set up ropeways in 16 locations, including cities like Bundi, Sikar, Ajmer, & Banswara.

Authorities advocate for ropeways as an efficient & greener alternative that will reduce pollution. However, the Haldwani-Nainital ropeway had generated concerns due to frequent landslide occurrences. Kullu & Bhuntar residents have protested against the proposed Bijli Mahadev ropeway, citing their deity’s displeasure towards it. Experts are urging for extensive Environmental Impact Assessments of these projects, especially in the Himalayas because of the region’s sensitive ecology.

Presently, ropeways have been adopted for boosting tourism & other commercial purposes. But with inflation & new GST regulations, the Maihar Ropeway had to revise fares for pilgrims visiting Sharda Devi due to increased operational costs. Meanwhile, Aizawl’s Dartlang-Chaltlang Ropeway had incurred over ₹15 crore in wasteful expenditure due to lack of feasibility assessment & approval failures ultimately yielding no tangible public benefit.

Despite such hurdles, there is an ongoing momentum behind ropeway development across smaller cities as sustainability is an intended goal for this push. Concerted efforts are needed to address regulatory frameworks, conduct comprehensive assessments & engage local communities effectively to make ropeways more accessible as a means of public transport.

Is there a ropeway coming up in your city soon? Do you think it will be able to address your city's transit needs?