Ghaziabad to introduce ropeway system for local commuters

NEW DELHI: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has decided to develop aerial urban passenger ropeway links. The links will provide improved short-distance mode of transportation and also act as feeders for the metro system in the city. GDA officials on Friday, December 18, said that they wrote an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of a techno-feasibility study and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project.

Kanchan Verma, Vice-Chairperson of GDA, said that Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, recently directed authorities to find alternative models for local transportation. Hence, ropeway system was planned to be introduced. Its cost per kilometre is approximated Rs 35-70 crore. She also added that the EOI had been floated and as soon as DPR is prepared, it will be sent to the state government.

Asheesh Shivpuri, chief architect and town planner, GDA, said that the commuters face daily hassles. This is the reason why the authority has decided to introduce the ropeway system. It requires less funding and takes less space compared to metro in terms of land. For example, the New Bus Adda metro towards Ghaziabad railway station has less space and is highly congested. Since there is a flyover at the central verge of the Adda, the metro line cannot be extended. The ropeway system will be more appropriate and will be cheaper than the metro system.

Generally, the ropeway is a transport system used in mountains or mines for ferrying goods or people. The carrier cars are suspended with the help of moving cables which are powered by a motor system. Such systems are already in operation in Haridwar and have been proposed for Ayodhya as well.