Pune: Tourists will soon be able to reach Sinhagad fort using a ropeway, as the project for the same has got the final clearance from the government.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will facilitate the development of the 1.8-km ropeway to ferry visitors from the foothill at Aatkarwadi village to the fort’s entrance, Pune Darwaza, in about five minutes.
Speaking about the development of the project, PMRDA Chief Kiran Gitte said that the project will cost around Rs 116 crore. “It will be made by a private Australia-based company. About Rs 40 crore will be used to make the ropeway and Rs 60 crore to Rs 70 crore in building other facilities for the ropeway,” added Gitte.
The ropeway was being planned for over a decade and awaiting clearance from the Central and State governments. Gitte said that the Forest Department has given clearance for development of the project at the fort. “It is a part of eco-tourism and the project work will start by September,” added Gitte. The project will reduce traffic congestion on the road connecting to the fort.
In 2016, to boost tourism, District Collector Saurabh Rao had given the green signal to four tourist destinations — Lonavla, Sinhagad, Shivneri and Bhima Shankar for a facelift and this also included building the ropeway. But later the process was stuck for various approvals at the government level.
