Sarasbaug-Parvati Hill Ropeway in Pune: PMC Approves Project Consultant; Ropeway to Carry 1500 Passengers Per Hour Across the 750-Meters
AI-generated image for representation.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee has approved the appointment of a Project Management Consultant for the proposed Sarasbaug-Parvati Hill ropeway project, marking a step forward in the long-pending plan to improve access to Parvati Hill and promote tourism in Pune.
The proposed 750-metre ropeway will connect Peshwe Park near Sarasbaug directly to Parvati Hill. The journey is expected to take approximately 2.5 minutes in one direction, with the system designed to carry up to 1,500 passengers per hour in each direction.
According to the proposed plan, the ropeway will have 22 cabins, each with a capacity of eight passengers, supported by five towers ranging between 12 and 40 metres in height. (Pune News)
PMC Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale said the project requires specialised electrical and mechanical expertise that is not available within the civic body’s existing technical workforce. The appointment of an external consultant is therefore necessary to assess and plan the project.
The consultant will conduct site inspections, examine the technical and financial feasibility, and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The scope will also include identifying statutory permissions, preparing cost estimates and tender conditions, evaluating bids from prospective contractors, and overseeing the tendering process until the contract is awarded and a work order is issued.
The consultant will also examine possible funding and execution models, including Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT).
PMC has made an initial provision of ₹1 crore for the ropeway project in its 2026–27 annual budget. Tenders for appointing the project consultant were initially invited in August 2026. The consultancy fee has been fixed at 1.27% of the total project cost or a minimum of ₹2.54 crore, whichever is higher, with GST and other applicable taxes payable separately.
The overall project cost and funding arrangement will be determined after the consultant submits the feasibility report.
The approval to appoint a consultant does not mean that construction has received final clearance. PMC’s administration will examine the Detailed Project Report and the consultant’s recommendations before taking a final decision on whether and how to proceed with construction. (Pune News)
