Ropeway to link Vaishali, Mohan Nagar stations?

GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is planning to build a ropeway to connect Vaishali metro station on the Blue Line with Mohan Nagar on the Red. The development authority had earlier planned a metro corridor to cover the 4.5km stretch, but dropped the idea since it was proving to be too costly.
The GDA has hired a private agency to prepare the detailed project report in a month. Officials said while a metro corridor would have cost Rs 1,800 crore, a ropeway could be built for around Rs 450 crore.

“In December last year, Ghaziabad MP Gen VK Singh (retd) had asked officials to explore the option of a ropeway between the two stations. The idea was appreciated at the highest level in Lucknow and we were asked to prepare a feasibility report,” a GDA official said.
The development authority had mulled the idea of a ropeway for two other routes. They were Noida Sector 62 station to Vaishali and Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) metro station to Ghaziabad railway station. “The Vaishali to Mohan Nagar route was selected because it is a straight line and there is ample space available along the median for the ropeway to run,” said AK Choudhary, a senior GDA official in the know of the ropeway project.
The ropeway, officials said, would be like any other one has seen in the hill stations. “The actual cost of the project can be known only after the DPR has been submitted. But even if the project cost exceeds the estimated Rs 450 crore, it would be much cheaper than building a metro corridor,” Choudhary said.
Although the finer details are being worked out, officials said the ropeway — 4.4km long — would have two junctions at Vaishali and Vasundhara for passengers to board. “About 10 ropeway cabs, with a seating capacity of 15 people in each, will operate on the corridor. They will be available every three minutes,” Choudhary said.
The travel time between Viashali and Mohan Nagar stations is expected to be less than 10 minutes. On the road, it takes about half an hour to cover the distance.
Experts dubbed the project ambitious. Ratnesh Singhal, a road and design consultant based in Ghaziabad, said, “Ropeways are going to be the future of urban transportation. Not just environment-friendly, they are cost-effective too. Land for roads is becoming scarce day by day and the traffic load is ever increasing. Ropeways are the best option and they are very much possible between the Vaishali and Mohan Nagar stations.”