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The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Idukki awaits government nod to initiate works on cable car service
The misty hills of Idukki is gearing up for 'sky-high' transformation with the Tourism department looking for government approval to start the first steps for a cable car service in the district. A ₹3-crore allocation in the last State Budget had kick-started this ambitious plan to connect Moolamattom and Nadukani Pavilion via an aerial ropeway along the scenic Thodupuzha–Puliyanmala State highway. With the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation (IPRCL) submitting proposals to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the initiative, the department is now awaiting a green light from the government to take this dream to the next level. The proposed Moolamattom-Nadukani Pavilion Cable Car Service would be modelled on the lines of the cable car service in Gulmarg, Kashmir. According to sources, a decision was taken in a recent Tourism department meeting to implement the project soon. It would be implemented in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. 'A milestone' District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) secretary Jitheesh Jose said that the project would be a milestone for tourism development in the district, especially in the Kattappana-Thodupuzha route. 'The Kattappana-Thodupzuha route is the least developed tourism area in the district. The cable car service from Moolamattom to Nadukani Pavilion will draw more tourists to the district. In addition, Kalvari Mount, Idukki Kudiyeta Smarakam, Hill View Park as well as the Idukki and Cheruthoni dams along the route will also attract more tourists,' said Mr. Jose. He said that after the Cantilever Glass Bridge was installed in the Wagamon Adventure Park, tourist footfall in Wagamon nearly doubled and became the place receiving the highest number of tourists in the district. Mr. Jose said that with the installation of the cable car service in Nadukani, the area would transform into a significant tourism hub.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
B'luru-M'luru VB express inches closer with ghat stretch electrification
Mangaluru: Electrification of the critical Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section of the South Western Railway (SWR), Mysuru division, is expected to be completed by Oct, potentially bringing the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express closer to reality. However, railway officials said that the final decision to launch a Vande Bharat service rests with the govt and railway board. Due to safety-related work and the ongoing electrification efforts on the Ghat section, one pair of trains per day (a total of three pairs weekly) has been cancelled from May 31 to Nov 2. SWR Mysuru division divisional railway manager (DRM) Mudit Mittal told TOI that the entire stretch on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru section is electrified except for the 36 km from Donigal to Shiribagilu. "This section is one of the most difficult, due to the lack of road access. We have to transport all materials by train," he said. Although six day trains were cancelled overall, only one pair operates on this stretch each day. "All three affected train pairs have similar timings while traversing the ghat section. Hence, we have blocked one path to dedicate it entirely for the movement of material trains," Mittal said. There are currently five pairs of passenger trains operating through the ghat section. Of these, four pairs run between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, and one pair connects Vijayapura and Mangaluru, the only train linking North Karnataka with the coastal region. Despite the cancellations, three pairs of passenger trains will continue to operate on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, ensuring minimal disruption, said DRM Mittal. Explaining why freight trains were not considered for cancellation, Mittal said, "With the monsoon approaching, there are chances of roads being closed due to heavy rainfall. We did not want to divert freight movement, which is critical, so we reserved the cancelled passenger train slots for moving electrification equipment." The ghat section has unique operational rules due to its steep terrain. Normally, railway routes are divided into small segments known as block sections. However, in this ghat, two blocks are combined into one due to the terrain's complexity. Since it is a single-line section, a train must clear the entire stretch before another train can enter. During the work window, a four-hour block is scheduled daily. Material trains depart simultaneously from Shiribagilu and Donigal, taking about 1.5 hours to travel and another 1.5 hours to return. One hour is allocated for unloading, he explained. Also, the maximum speed of any train in this ghat section is 30 kmph. The electrification work will be carried out by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES). DRM Mittal expressed confidence that the project will be completed within the targeted timeframe.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rs18,585Cr Mobility Masterplan Set To Zoom City Into Future
1 2 Nagpur: Imagine a Nagpur where your daily commute is smoother, faster, and greener. That's the vision behind the city's ambitious Rs18,585.5 crore Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), designed to revolutionise urban travel over the next several years. Drafted by MahaMetro in partnership with Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), this multi-phased blueprint is nearing final review and promises a complete overhaul of Nagpur's transport landscape — from footpaths and flyovers to electric buses and mass rapid transit ambitious CMP breaks down its budget into three implementation phases. Phase 1, the most expansive, will require Rs14,067 crore. Phase 2 will follow with Rs3,637.8 crore, and Phase 3 will round off the execution with Rs880.7 crore. The core focus areas for this extensive development include Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) facility improvements, mobility management measures, public transport enhancement, freight infrastructure development, and road improvement projects.A closer look at the project reveals that the lion's share of funding is reserved for creating High Capacity Mass Rapid Transit Corridors (MRTCs). The 36.5 km long stretches of high capacity corridors are planned at a cost of Rs9,125 crore, making it the single largest investment item in the proposal. Following this is the Medium Capacity MRTC, spanning 40.5 km with a budget of Rs4,455 crore. Interestingly, electric buses stand as the third-largest expenditure, with an allocation of Rs3,493 crore, underlining a serious push towards clean, sustainable public transport. The plan also includes city forecasting till from the MRT systems and electric fleet, the plan includes a range of other major infrastructure developments. These include road widening, flyovers, underpasses, Road Over Bridges (ROBs), and upgraded bus terminals. A strong emphasis has also been placed on improving pedestrian infrastructure. About 156km of footpaths have been proposed in Phase 1 alone, with a standard minimum width of 1.8 meters and a curb height of 150 mm for pedestrian comfort and mobility also plays a key role in the CMP. An Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) is proposed at 175 strategic locations across the city, backed by a budget of Rs175 crore. To tackle the city's growing parking woes, the plan proposes four new off-street parking facilities with over 1,400 Equivalent Car Spaces (ECS) and 27 on-street parking zones covering groundwork for the plan is already set through comprehensive surveys. A 650 km road network survey, speed and delay assessments, and vehicle counts at fuel stations were carried out. In addition, three bus terminals and four railway terminals were studied to assess multimodal the blueprint is elaborate and forward-looking, it is still under review. A second round of stakeholder discussions was recently held at the divisional commissionerate. Officials confirm that a final review meeting is expected soon, after which the proposal will be sent to the state govt for approved and executed as envisioned, this CMP has the potential to completely reshape how Nagpur commutes, making it one of the most modern, connected, and commuter-friendly cities in India.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Metro's mobility plan for city in final stages
Nagpur: In a crucial step towards addressing Nagpur's growing traffic and transport challenges, the high-level committee chaired by divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari convened its second meeting on Friday to review the draft of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). The plan, prepared by MahaMetro in collaboration with Rail India Technical and Economic Service (Rites), aims to create a long-term strategy for efficient, integrated, and sustainable mobility solutions for the city. "This was our second high-level review meeting. A comprehensive presentation was made to all stakeholders, and we have now asked for further final suggestions within the next week," said Bidari. She said a final meeting will be held before the plan is submitted to the chief minister and other senior ministers director of strategic planning Anilkumar Kokate elaborated on the technical aspects of the CMP. "The presentation incorporates traffic survey data, road analysis, and previous feedback from departments. This plan includes important elements like bus terminus locations, traffic flow patterns, and infrastructure gaps," he also highlighted one of the major proposed changes — redirecting intercity buses to terminate at the outskirts of the city, instead of entering the congested urban zones. This move is expected to ease central traffic pressure and streamline public transport are also being proposed in the coordination between different public transport systems, including city buses, metro lines, and shared mobility services. The CMP will serve as a roadmap not only for infrastructure development but also for policy and regulatory adjustments to support future mobility needs. Kokate said that another final meeting will be held within a month after which the proposal will be presented to the CM and other concerned meeting brought together key stakeholders including representatives from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), MahaMetro, Public Works Department (PWD), DCP Traffic, Regional Transport Office (RTO), and others. The CMP presentation included consolidated feedback from all participating departments, reflecting a collaborative approach to designing the city's future mobility one more stakeholder meeting scheduled in the coming days, the plan is expected to be finalised and presented to the Chief Minister and relevant ministers next month. The city administration is positioning this plan as a foundational step in transforming Nagpur's urban transport landscape.
