During a “Ropeway: Symposium-Cum-Exhibition” held in New Delhi on 23 January 2024, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, announced the identification of over 200 projects valued at Rs 1.25 lakh crore under the National Ropeways Development Programme, known as “Parvatmala Pariyojana,” to be implemented over the next five years. He emphasized the government’s commitment to make ropeways financially viable by reducing project costs and encouraging Public Private Partnerships to expand the ropeway network across the country.
Minister Gadkari highlighted that apart from boosting tourism in hilly regions, ropeways have a high potential for improving urban public transport. He stressed the importance of developing cost-effective and indigenous solutions while maintaining safety standards. He also emphasized how ropeways could contribute positively to tourism and job creation in India.
The minister emphasised that his ministry’s focus is on timely, cost-effective, high-quality, and sustainable infrastructure development, which he believed would enhance citizens’ quality of life and foster socio-economic growth. He further highlighted the need for standardising policies and codes, as well as promoting the manufacturing of ropeway components under the “Make in India” initiative to transform the ropeway industry.
Additionally, Shri Gadkari mentioned that 60 percent construction support would be provided under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM for Ropeways), as against the 40 percent support offered under National Highways, to attract more private sector participation in the development of ropeways as part of the Parvatmala Pariyojana.
During the symposium, Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), emphasised that infrastructure development directly improves citizens’ quality of life and highlighted the Indian government’s efforts to streamline processes and make doing business easier in the country. He invited investors to consider India as a promising destination for investment, given its current status as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
During the seminar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NHLML and IIT Roorkee, for establishing a Center of excellence for ropeways and other innovative alternate mobility systems.
Pictures sourced from: pib.gov.in
