The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has invited bids to build a 1.88-km-long ropeway from Phool Bagh Square to Gwalior Fort in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

On completion, the project will not only help tourists save time, it will also provide hustle-free sorties to Gwalior Fort from Phoolbagh. The entire trip will take just seven to 10 minutes.

The ropeway project is expected to become a future landmark of the city and complement the magnificent Gwalior Fort, which attracts thousands of visitors each year from across the world.

The cable propelled transit system will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 127 crore on design, build, operate and transfer (Hybrid Annuity) basis.

The selected bidder will have to develop the project in a period of 24 months from the date of award of the contract and will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the ropeway project.

Under the project, cable cars (trolleys) will carry passengers from the lower terminal at Baradari (Phoolbagh) to the upper terminal at Gwalior Fort (behind Scindia school).

There have been two previous attempts at constructing a ropeway to the fort, but none of them materialized due to lack of government clearances from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state ASI.

Seventeen Projects In Pipeline

Earlier, in August 2022, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct ropeway projects across the state under the Parvatmala Yojana was signed between NHLML and the state government of Madhya Pradesh.

The state has submitted a total of 17 proposals for consideration under this scheme. These include:

1. Railway Station to Mahakal Station (Ujjain)

2. Gol Jod Tiraha (Kolar Road) to New Market (Bhopal)

3. Kokta, Transport Nagar to Nadra Bus Stand via Govindpura (Bhopal)

4. Phool Bagh Square to Gwalior Fort (Gwalior)

5. Omkareshwar Temple (Khandwa)

6. Orchha City to near Ram Raja Temple (Tikamgarh)

7. Rahli - Patan Road to Tikitoria Mata Temple (Sagar)

8. Rani Rupmati Mahal/ Rupmati Pavillion (Dhar)

9. Sidhwarkut Jain Temple (Omkareshwar) to Rajeshwar Ashram (Khandwa)

10. Ferry Pickup at Bank of River Narmada to Sailani Island Resort (Khandwa)

11. Kenghariyal (Ken) River Bank, Raneh Falls, Khajuraho (Chhatarpur)

12. Upper area of Raisen Fort (Raisen)

13. Chauragarh Mahadev Mandir, Pachmarhi (Narmadapuam)

14. Patalkot Tamiya to Chimptipur (Chhindwara)

15. Dugdh dhara Falls to Kapil Dhara Falls, Amarkantak (Mandla)

16. Rajwada Chouraha to Regal Chouraha (Indore)

17. Ramoa Bandh, Gwalior

As per the MoU signed between the public works department of Madhya Pradesh government and NHLML, the department will make available, land required to set up the ropeway along with other logistic support to NHLML.

NHLML, which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), is the nodal agency for undertaking works related to development of ropeways in the country.

The NHLML has already finalised the tenders for a 1.99-km-long ropeway from Ujjain Junction Railway Station to Mahakaleshwar temple. The ropeway will reduce the travel time from Ujjain railway station to Mahakal temple to 5 minutes.

The Mahakal Ropeway will be developed at a cost of Rs 209 crore and construction will commence in July 2023.

Apart from this, an urban ropeway project is slated to come up in Jabalpur. Jabalpur will become the fourth city after La Paz-El Alto in Bolivia, Mexico City and Varanasi to introduce ropeway city transport.

This will benefit the population of about 1.4 million in the city. The city is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and is the confluence zone of six national highways.