Ropeway for Connectivity; Building Parvatmala for Hilly areas

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced the National Ropeways Development Programme, Parvatmala in Union Budget for 2022-23.

About Parvatmala Scheme:

• Parvatmala initiative is an ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
• Besides promoting tourism, the objective is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters.
• It will be taken up on the Public-private partnership (PPP) model.
• The contracts for eight 60-kilometre ropeway projects will be given in 2022-23. Currently, the scheme is being implemented in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, and other North-Eastern states.

Who is the Nodal Ministry?

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH)will have responsibility for development of ropeway.
• The Ministry will be in charge of ropeway and alternative transportation solutions, technology development, as well as construction, research, and policy in this field.
  • In February 2021, the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 was amended, which enabled the MORTH to also look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions.

Significance of Ropeways Infrastructure:

• Cost-Effective Alternative: Ropeways are an economical since they are built in a straight route over mountainous terrain, resulting in lower land acquisition expenses.
• Faster & Better: Ropeways offer an advantage over roadway projects since they can be erected in a straight line, even over mountainous terrain.
• Sustainable Alternative: Ropeways can pave the way towards low dust emissions which is good for the environment. Material containers can be built to prevent environmental contamination.
• Last mile connectivity: The ropeway projects using 3S (a type of cable car system) or related technologies can transport 6000-8000 passengers in the last mile.

Advantages of ropeway connectivity:

• Practical solution: Ropeway is ideal for challenging and sensitive terrain, where a traditional mass transit system would be impractical.
• Long rope spans: The system easily navigates around obstacles such as rivers, buildings, ravines, and roadways.
• Ropes guided on towers: Ropes that are led over towers take up little space on the ground and pose no threat to persons or animals.
• Economy:
• This mode of transportation will provide mobility to people living in remote places, allowing them easy access and transport to other areas.
• Villagers and farmers in such places will be able to sell their produce in other areas, allowing them to increase their revenue.
• Ropeway with several cars pushed by a single power plant and drive mechanism for economic reasons. This saves money on both construction and upkeep.
• The employment of a single operator for a complete ropeway reduces labour costs even more.
• Ability to handle large slopes:Ropeways and cableways (cable cranes) can handle large slopes and large differences in elevation. Where a road or railroad needs switchbacks or tunnels, a ropeway travels straight up and down the fall line. 
• Environmentally friendly:Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed to rule out any soiling of the environment.