₹285 Crore Ropeway Project for Chennai’s Beach Tourism?

Chennai is gearing itself up for a new ropeway project that will connect Marina Beach and Besant Nagar. The project, covering 4.6 km, will aim to lessen the traffic in the city and attract more tourists to the beach.

The Ropeway Project

Spearheaded by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), the project is currently up for discussion. NHLML is preparing a “detailed feasibility report” for the implementation of the project which will cost around ₹285 Crore. Once the feasibility of the project is approved and clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change is received, the organisation will be inviting bids for the project. Though the time frame for the project is said to be two years, the parties involved expect it to extend its deadline.

As per reports, monocable detachable gondola ropeways will be employed with each cabin having a seating capacity of ten people. 60% of the construction support for the project will be provided by NHLML and the remaining part will be handled by Department of Highways and Minor Ports.

According to The New Indian Express, an official working on the project stated, “We have got the in-principle clearance for the project from the state government, which has also cleared the alignment.”