Parvatmala Scheme: National Ropeways Development Programme

Parvatmala Scheme: Relevance

• GS 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

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Parvatmala Project: Context

• Union budget 2022-23 has announced a National Ropeways Development Programme— “Parvatmala”—to improve connectivity and convenience in hilly areas.

Parvatmala Programme: Key points

• Developing an efficient transport network is a big challenge in hilly areas.
• The rail and air transport networks are limited in these areas, while the development of road network has technical challenges.
• In this backdrop, Ropeways have emerged as a convenient and safe alternate transport

Ropeway development in India

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) is responsible for development of Highways and regulating the road transport sector across the country.
• Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 was amended, which enabled the Ministry to also look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions.
  • The move will give a boost to the sector by setting up a regulatory regime.
• The Ministry will also have responsibility for development of ropeway and alternative mobility solutions technology, as well as construction, research, and policy in this area.
• Formulation of institutional, financial, and regulatory framework for the technology will also fall under the ambit of this allocation.

Parvatmala scheme

• Parvatmala will be taken up on PPP mode, which will be a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
• The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism.
• This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible.
• The finance minister announced that contracts for 8 ropeway projects for a length of 60 km would be awarded in 2022-23.
• The scheme is being presently started in regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, and the other Northeastern states.

Factors driving ropeway infrastructure

• Economical mode of transportation: Given that ropeway projects are built in a straight line over a hilly terrain, it also results in lower land acquisition costs. Hence, despite having a higher cost of construction per km than roadways, ropeway projects’ construction cost may happen to be economical than roadways.
• Faster mode of transportation: Owing to the aerial mode of transportation, ropeways have an advantage over roadway projects where ropeways can be built in a straight line, over a hilly terrain.
• Environmentally friendly: Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed to rule out any soiling of the environment.
• Last mile connectivity: Ropeway projects adopting 3S (a kind of cable car system) or equivalent technologies can transport 6000-8000 passengers per hour.

Benefits of ropeways

• Ideal for difficult / challenging / sensitive terrain
  • Long rope spans: The system crosses obstacles like rivers, buildings, ravines, or roads without a problem.
  • Ropes guided over towers: Low space requirements on the ground, and no barrier for humans or animals.
  • This mode of transportation will enable mobility to people living in difficult areas and help them become part of the mainstream.
  • Villagers / farmers living in such areas will be able to sell their produces in other areas, which in turn will help them grow their income.
• Economy: Ropeway having multiple cars propelled by a single power-plant and drive mechanism.
  • This reduces both construction and maintenance costs. The use of a single operator for an entire ropeway is a further saving, in labour cost.
  • On level ground, the cost of ropeways is competitive with narrow-gauge railroads; in the mountains the ropeway is far superior.
• Flexible: Transport of different materials – A ropeway allows for the simultaneous transport of different types of material.
• 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.
  • The old cliff railways in England and ski resort ropeways in the mountains take advantage of this feature.

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