Mumbai, India – The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has unveiled plans for a ropeway system that will connect Aarey Station on Metro Line 3 to Film City in Goregaon, with a potential extension to the sprawling Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). This ambitious initiative aims to significantly improve last-mile connectivity for one of Mumbai’s key employment and tourism hubs, an area currently grappling with limited public transport options and chronic traffic congestion.
While the project is still in its nascent planning stages, an MMRCL officer confirmed on Tuesday that neither the budget nor the timeline has been finalized. “The system could utilise a mono-cable, bi-cable, or tri-cable detachable gondola system, depending on the feasibility study to be undertaken,” the officer stated, indicating a thorough assessment will precede technology selection.
The ropeway is expected to be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, likely following a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) framework. This approach will leverage private sector expertise and investment while MMRCL oversees regulatory approvals and integration with the existing metro network.
This planned ropeway is a strategic move by MMRCL to enhance transit connectivity from its Metro Line 3 stations, which runs as a 33.5-km underground corridor from Colaba to SEEPZ. One phase of Metro Line 3 is already operational, with the other phase currently under construction.
Preliminary estimates suggest the ropeway corridor will stretch approximately 2-3 km, depending on the final alignment, and is projected to transport around 2,000-3,000 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD). Film City, situated on the southern side of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, attracts a substantial daily influx of workers and tourists, making improved accessibility a critical need. The area’s limited roads often lead to severe bottlenecks and a scarcity of efficient last-mile alternatives.
Officials emphasized that the ropeway is designed with minimal environmental disturbance in mind. By utilizing cable-based support, the project will significantly reduce the need for land acquisition and protect sensitive green areas, offering an eco-friendly transport solution.
If brought to fruition, this project will mark one of the few instances in India where a ropeway functions as a full-fledged urban transit system seamlessly integrated with a metro network. The precise alignment, capacity, technological specifications, and project implementation details are yet to be determined.
