ROPEWAY MARKET TRENDS IN INDIA
ROPEWAY MARKET TRENDS IN INDIA AS VISIONED BY M & M ROPEWAYS
The Ropeway and Cable Car Market is set for a Promising Future in India
Passenger Carrying Ropeways
The public application of Aerial Ropeways in India started in the 60s & 70s. However, in recent years, Ropeways have slowly and gradually taken off from a niche industry to a more popular mode of public commute. Recent years have seen a host of Ropeway and Cable Car projects in India across hilltop temples, mountainous terrains, and other remote locations.
The central and state governments in India are mulling over Ropeways as a faster, more economical, and environmentally friendly mode of commute. They are thinking of building more Ropeway projects. While their role in offering last-mile commutes in remote locations of India is unquestionable, Ropeways and Cable Cars can also play a pivotal role in offering seamless connectivity in high-traffic regions in modern Indian cities.
In the western cities, Ropeways are a popular mode of transport and on similar lines, the Government of India is planning to implement such projects in the high-traffic regions.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi riding a Ropeway built by M&M Ropeways in Gujarat.
‘Parvatmala Pariyojana’: National Ropeways Development Programme
In the recent budget for FY-23, the Parvatamala Pariyojana scheme was announced under which the government has planned to develop more than 250 projects with Ropeway length of over 1200 kilometers. For the first time in the country, the ‘Parvatmala Pariyojana’ scheme is being implemented for areas such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East. This scheme will create a modern system of transportation and connectivity in the mountains.
Road, Transport and Highways Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari said that the government is promoting the manufacturing of Ropeway components under the Make in India initiative. Mr. Gadkari also encouraged the European Ropeway companies to participate in the enhancement of existing Ropeway standards to ensure sustainable and safer transport. The government’s focus is on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) under the Hybrid Annuity Model with 60% contribution support by the Government of India.
The Ropeway & Cable Car market in India is poised for robust growth. Numerous factors can drive the growth of the ropeway industry in India:
Ropeways are a greener and more sustainable mode of transport with no direct pollution involved. It consumes less power than other modes of transport.
It is beneficial in linking challenging mountainous terrains and remote locations. Ropeways can be used to link villages in the remote Himalayan region and North Eastern states, where construction and maintenance of roadways are cumbersome, expensive, and at times not feasible.
Ropeways can conveniently navigate through steep gradients. It also enables travelers to observe the natural beauty all around.
Ropeways need limited space for stations and transit pillars and the cable can easily pass through built-up areas, which is an added advantage in using it for mass commutes in congested urban corridors.
There is minimal land acquisition involved in the ropeway project in contrast to roadways and metro corridors that require a substantial cost of land acquisition.
As discussed above, plans are underway to introduce Ropeways and Cable Cars in remote congested urban centers, where developing mass transit systems such as suburban railways or metro lines are difficult.
Material Handling Ropeways
The future of material handling Ropeways in India is promising, given the country’s diverse topography, increasing industrialization, and the need for efficient transportation of goods in challenging terrains.
India has a varied landscape, including mountains, hills, forests, and rivers, where conventional transportation methods are often impractical. Material handling Ropeways offer an efficient solution for transporting goods across these challenging terrains.
As India continues to invest in infrastructure development, there will be an increasing demand for innovative transportation solutions. Material handling Ropeways can play a significant role in enhancing connectivity, especially in remote and hilly areas.
Material Ropeways can support rural development by enabling the transportation of agricultural produce, forest products, and other goods to markets. This can boost the economy of rural areas and improve the livelihoods of people living in these regions.
India has a thriving mining sector and various heavy industries. Material handling Ropeways are crucial for transporting minerals, ores, and other raw materials from mines and industrial sites to processing plants or ports. Their efficiency and capacity make them indispensable in these sectors.
Material handling Ropeways are often more cost-effective than building roads or railways in difficult terrains. They require less land acquisition, and the construction process is typically faster, making them an attractive option for industries looking to minimize costs. They are relatively easy and quick to set up, operate, maintain and take down again. Also, a material handling Ropeway does not necessarily need to have a straight line. Where the line of transport is not straight throughout, an intermediate structure called an angle station can be used to change the otherwise straight alignment of the ropeway. The Ropeway carriers can also be adapted to the very nature of the materials that need to be transported.
Government initiatives focusing on improving connectivity, promoting industries, and boosting economic growth in remote regions align well with the benefits offered by material handling Ropeways. Subsidies or incentives for implementing such solutions can further drive their adoption
Following are the common sectors where Material Handling Ropeways are used in India:
· Cement Industry
· Stone Crushing and Transportation
· Coal Handling/Transportation
· Pipeline Construction
· Hydro Power Projects
. Construction of Dams
· Rural Development: Connecting hill-top villages and for construction where road building is not feasible
· Transporting agricultural produce in the mountains
· Tea Estates
In summary, the future of material handling Ropeways in India looks bright due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, and ability to overcome geographical challenges. As the demand for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions continues to rise, material handling Ropeways are likely to play a crucial role in shaping India’s logistics and transportation landscape.