New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, announced on Tuesday that the government has identified over 200 projects, amounting to Rs 1.25 lakh crore, under the National Ropeways Development Programme, ‘Parvatmala Pariyojana,’ to be implemented over the next five years.
Speaking at the ‘Ropeway: Symposium-Cum-Exhibition,’ Gadkari emphasized the need to make ropeways economically viable by reducing overall project costs and encouraging public-private partnerships. He highlighted the potential of ropeways not only in promoting tourism in hilly areas but also as a substantial asset in urban public transport.
The event featured the awarding of two major ropeway projects: the Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Project in Himachal Pradesh and the Dhosi Hill Ropeway Project in Haryana. An MoU was signed between NHLML and IIT Roorkee to establish a center of excellence for ropeways and innovative alternative mobility systems.
Gadkari stressed the importance of standardizing existing policies and codes while promoting the ‘Make in India’ initiative for ropeway components. Under the ‘Parvatmala Pariyojana,’ 60% construction support is offered under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), making it an attractive proposition for private players.
The symposium-cum-exhibition aimed to facilitate collaborations between Indian and global manufacturers, technology providers, concessionaires, and infrastructure developers. Discussions revolved around building safer and more affordable ropeway systems, improving the ropeway industry landscape, and enhancing public-private partnerships in India.
The event showcased state-of-the-art ropeway technologies by both Indian and global manufacturers, contributing to the aerial mobility ecosystem. It provided crucial insights and identified areas for policy development, promoting indigenous manufacturing, and enhancing the capacity and capability of ropeway technology.
The symposium highlighted the pivotal role ropeways will play in India’s economic growth by fostering the development of safer, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation under the National Ropeways Development Programme.
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