MoRTH to look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Government of India has amended its Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, and given a new responsibility to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions from now on.

"The move is expected to give a boost to the sector, by setting up a regulatory regime and facilitating research and new technology to come into this sector. An amendment to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 has been notified, to enable this step," said in the statement.

MoRTH will have a new responsibility for the development of ropeway and alternative mobility solutions technology, as well as construction, research, and policy in this area. Formulation of the institutional, financial, and regulatory framework for the technology will also fall under the ambit of this move.

Responding to the development, Union Minister for MSME & Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that this will go a long way in developing sustainable alternative mobility solutions in the transport sector for urban, hilly, and last-mile connectivity.

He said that he believes that alternative mobility and ropeways etc are important for the development of the transport sector in the country. 

He further said that with growing mobility and diverse terrain across the country, it is imperative that all solutions be enabled and implemented. With this change, a holistic view can be taken, he added. The

Gadkari also pointed out that this is another step towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unified development of the means of transport to meet the aspirations of the citizens and improve their ease of living.

The important benefits of these steps could be last-mile connectivity for remote locations; reducing congestion on mainstream roads; the chance to develop world-class ropeway infrastructure; setting up of an organised  and dedicated rope-way and alternative mobility solutions industry; new technology, like CPT – Cable Propelled Transit coming to the sector; setting safety norms for unregulated ropeways; allowing freight and goods at remote stations, and regulating tariffs structure for the technology.