Context: Union Finance Minister while presenting Union Budget for 2022-23 announced National Ropeways Development Programme – “Parvatmala”.
Key takeaways
It will be taken up on PPP mode.
Ropeways will be a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism.
This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible.
The Finance Minister announced that contracts for 8 ropeway projects for a length of 60 km would be awarded in 2022-23.
States being covered: The scheme is being presently started in regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir and the other North Eastern states.
Major Factors Driving Ropeway Infrastructure
Economical mode of transportation: Given that ropeway projects are built in a straight line over a hilly terrain, it also results in lower land acquisition costs. Hence, despite having a higher cost of construction per km than roadways, ropeway projects’ construction cost may happen to be economical than roadways.
Faster mode of transportation: Owing to the aerial mode of transportation, ropeways have an advantage over roadway projects where ropeways can be built in a straight line, over a hilly terrain.
Environmentally friendly: Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed so as to rule out any soiling of the environment.
Last mile connectivity: Ropeway projects adopting 3S (a kind of cable car system) or equivalent technologies can transport 6000-8000 passengers per hour.
