A ropeway in the forest connecting Borivali to Thane is still a faraway dream.
The state has passed the recommendation of the state board for wildlife on allowing a survey of the forest area to set up a ropeway to the National Board for Wildlife (NBW). According to state forest officials it is only after the NBW gives its nod, the survey can be conducted.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will be entrusted with the task of studying the forest area in order to set up a ropeway for better connectivity between Borivali and Thane.
The principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) of Maharashtra Shree Bhagwan said, “There has been no clearance for the survey from any of the required authorities. There was however, a recommendation, which has been forwarded to the National Board for Wildlife (NBW). Based on their response to this survey I will be acting accordingly.”
According to officials from the forest department, conducting a survey within the premises will create disturbance to the wildlife as all the places within the park premises to be utilised for the development will have to be visited and studied. Though, there is no deadline for declaring whether the permission for the survey will be given or not, senior officials believe that this might take another 20 days time.
The MMRDA aims to have better connectivity between Borivali and Thane and utilise the ropeway as feeder service that can ferry 90 people from Borivali to Thane and vice versa in a single trip. Earlier, the MMRDA had told The Asian Age that the ropeway also aimed to boost tourism. However, the activists are not convinced with the development.
