Maharashtra is renowned not just for its breathtaking waterfalls, but also for housing several significant jyotirlingas. The state is home to five of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva: Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Grishneshwar, Aundha Nagnath, and Parli Vaijnath. Beyond these spiritual sites, Maharashtra boasts picturesque tropical destinations such as Tarkarli and Ratnagiri, hill stations like Mahabaleshwar, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. To further enhance its tourism potential, the state has announced the construction of 45 ropeways aimed at improving accessibility to important tourist destinations.
Out of the 45 ropeways, 16 ropeways will be developed by the state government, and the remaining 29 will be managed by the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) under the central government’s initiative. From the 45 ropeways, the highest number of these projects will be in the districts of Pune and Satara, each set to feature eight ropeways. These will connect various tourist and religious sites like Sinhagad Fort, Rajgad Fort, Shivneri Fort, Jejuri, Ashtavinayak Lenyadri, Darya Ghat, Bhimashankar Jyotirling, and Khandoba at Nimgaon.
Pune And Satara To Get 8 Ropeways Each
In fact, on February 3, 2024, a memorandum of understanding was formalized between the Maharashtra government and NHLML to facilitate these aerial ropeway projects. To expedite the development, the state government will extend necessary support to NHLML. A decision on this initiative was reached during a state cabinet meeting on February 18, 2025. It also leads to an official notification from Ganpat Kachre, an undersecretary in the public works department, on March 19.
The memorandum outlines the proposals for these 45 ropeways, requiring further governmental endorsements if assigned to alternative agencies. Under the Parvatmala scheme, the land will be leased for 30 years or the state may share revenue in commercially viable projects, contingent on a comprehensive project proposal presented to the infrastructure committee before execution.
Information about when the ropeways will be operational, fare, and timings will be available once construction of the project begins. Stay tuned for more details.
