PWD invites bids for consultant on Mulund ropeway to Taramati Mata temple inside SGNP

The Public Works Department (PWD) of Maharashtra has invited bids to appoint a consultant for a proposed ropeway from the foothills at Mulund to the Taramati Mata temple inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The consultant will prepare the architectural design of the ropeway. The ropeway will also offer a view of Tulsi lake. If the project goes ahead, it could be Mumbai's first ropeway.

Mulund BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha confirmed this on Monday. He had been the first to propose the ropeway to promote tourism in the area. He welcomed the government's decision to issue the tender.

Clarifying the scope of the project, Kotecha said the ropeway will run only within Mulund. It will connect the foothills to the Taramati Mata temple on the hilltop inside SGNP. He also dismissed speculation that the project would link Mulund with Borivali. According to him, the tender is only for the Mulund ropeway.

Kotecha said, "In the 2024 election campaign, we had promised to build a ropeway from the Mulund foothills to the Taramati Mata temple to promote tourism. It is a matter of joy that the PWD has now issued a tender to appoint a consultant to prepare the architectural design of the project."

He said the project will move ahead only after the detailed design is ready and the necessary approvals are received from the Centre's forest and environment departments.

The proposal also includes an observatory on the hilltop. From there, people will be able to get a full view of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the nearby Tulsi lake. Kotecha said, "We have proposed a beautiful observatory, where tourists can travel by ropeway to have darshan at the Taramati Mata temple and also enjoy the captivating views of Sanjay Gandhi National Park from the observatory."

He said the aim of the project is to promote tourism in Mulund and across Mumbai by showcasing the city's natural attractions. According to him, Mumbai currently has no ropeway, so the proposed project could bring a new tourism experience for residents and visitors from outside.

According to the tender document, the selected consultant will determine the right alignment and locations for the ropeway, assess land requirements, study ropeway systems around the world and carry out several engineering investigations. These include topographic, geotechnical, geodetic, hydrographic and reconnaissance surveys.

The consultant will also prepare the detailed alignment and system design of the ropeway, fix the starting and terminal stations and estimate the total cost of the project.

The scope of work also includes assessing the project's likely social, environmental, forest and wildlife impact. Since the proposed ropeway falls within the boundary of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, forest, environment and wildlife assessments and approvals are required before the project proceeds.

The appointment of the consultant is still at the design and assessment stage. The tender does not mean that construction has begun or that the project has received all the necessary statutory approvals.