Maharashtra mulls ropeway over SGNP

In order to boost tourism in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and improve connectivity between Borivali and Thane, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will soon conduct a study of constructing 8-km long ‘urban ropeway’ which according to MMRDA officials will act as a tourist attraction and also as a feeder service between the two locations.

“The idea is to boost tourism in SGNP and allow the common people to explore SGNP. We have assigned engineers from Tata consulting to conduct a study on whether having a ropeway inside the SGNP is feasible or not,” said Sanjay Sethi, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.

He further said, “People rarely get the opportunity to appreciate nature nowadays. The ropeway will allow people to explore the beauty inside SGNP when they pass over the park using the ropeway.”

According to MMRDA officials, they have even conveyed the same to the forest department officials by writing a letter to allow MMRDA to carry out a survey on feasibility of having a ropeway inside SGNP.

“The construction of the ropeway will require construction of towers on both the Borivali and Thane end and with it there will be an requirement of two or three pillars to support the cable wire of the ropeway at every kilometre. We will require to study its rider ship and financial feasibility, after which the practical viability can be concluded,” said an MMRDA official.

The state government also has similar plans to develop SGNP into a tourist destination of international standards in which the government had plans to have a special budgetary provision to develop the forest and improve the park.

“Our government is dedicated towards the upgradation of forests in the state and if there any such proposal of a ropeway in SGNP I am sure the forest officials will take note of the rules and regulations of forest and assist the MMRDA in going ahead with the plans,” said Sudhir Mungantiwar, state forest minister.

The MMRDA has plans to carry out feasibility studies on constructing a network of ropeways all around the city after taking suggestions in the Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS) carried out by MMMRDA in 2008.

According to MMRDA officials, tourists will be able to have a bird’s eye view of SGNP which includes tourist spots like Kanheri caves, boating, lion and tiger safari, mini-train, rest houses etc.