Another ropeway idea crashes before takeoff

The much-talked about ropeway plan devised by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC will not take off. The one-km ropeway, supposed to have come up at the famous Durga Devi hills in Nigdi, has fallen apart after officials of the Ordnance Depot, Dehu Road, objected citing safety and security concerns.

PCMC joint city engineer Praveen Tupe said the project was planned as a major attraction for tourists visiting Durga Devi hills. The PCMC had handed over the survey work to RITES, the engineering consultant firm. RITES had suggested the route that apparently ran near the Depot located near the Durga Devi hills. 8220;The project was financially viable. After RITES handed over the survey report to us, we decided to approach the Ordnance Depot. We thought it would be proper to get an okay from the Depot before starting the project, which was going to cost in crores,8221; said Tupe. 8220;Army officials objected to the ropeway route. They said it will be a security threat. We immediately decided to shelve the plan,8221; said Tupe who added they were not scounting for another site for the ropeway.