Cable cars and ropeways can be an effective means to provide last-mile connectivity options in congested cities apart from connecting hilly and difficult terrains, proposed Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday.
Mr Gadkari was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on passenger ropeway projects between Doppelmayr, an Austrian company, and WAPCOS, which is an engineering consultancy organisation of the government of India.
“I will suggest this is a goldmine (ropeways and other such systems), given the population increase. Technology is economically viable, it has a huge potential. Power is available here,” the minister said.
The MoU will include feasibility studies, detailed project reports, construction, equipment supply, operation and maintenance.
The minister said that the Uttarakhand government has already sought installation of ropeways at 10 sites in the state, which the Centre will look into provided the state offered land clearances and other regulatory clearances.
He also said that the government was exploring the use of new kinds of vehicles like hybrid aeroboats that can run on land, water and air at speeds greater than 80 km per hour.
