PWD floats tender for consultant on Mulund-Taramati Mata temple ropeway in Mumbai

A step has been taken towards building Mumbai's first ropeway. The Public Works Department (PWD) of the Maharashtra government has begun work on a proposed ropeway from the foothills of Mulund to the historic Taramati Mata temple, located within the limits of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The PWD recently floated a tender to appoint a consultant to prepare the detailed map and design of the project.

BJP MLA from the area Mihir Kotecha had promised a ropeway between Mulund and the Taramati Mata temple during his campaign for the 2024 Assembly election. His aim was to promote tourism in the Mulund area and make the journey easier for devotees. After the election, action to turn the promise into reality has now begun in earnest. Welcoming the tender process, Kotecha said the project would prove a new milestone not only for Mulund but for the whole of Mumbai, from the religious and tourism points of view.

The project will remain confined to Mulund. The ropeway will link the lower part of Mulund directly with the Taramati Mata temple. The plan also includes an observation tower on the hilltop, from which tourists will be able to enjoy views of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the nearby Tulsi lake.

There is talk in some quarters that the project will be a commercial route connecting Mulund with Borivali. MLA Mihir Kotecha has made clear that there is no truth in this.

According to the PWD tender, the consultant to be appointed will prepare the detailed project report (DPR). This includes choosing a suitable and safe route for the ropeway and carrying out a topographical survey and geo-technical and hydrological investigations. The consultant will also determine the area of land required for the project and fix the final stations. The total cost will be estimated after studying international projects.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is highly sensitive in terms of forest and wildlife. The project's impact on the environment will therefore be studied in depth. The administration has said that actual construction of the ropeway will begin only after the consultant's report is finalised and all legal and necessary clearances are received from the Union government's forest and environment department.