Source: The Hindu
HYDERABAD, INDIA, September 4, 2001: A proposed aireal cable car system to transport pilgrims from Tirupati town to the Tirumala temple will be the world’s longest such facility, stretching for a length of 6.1 km. Ropeways are synonymous with hilly countries like Switzerland and Austria, but their length is not more than 2 to 3 km. on an average. The ambitious project, to cost US$19.2 million, has seen the light of the day at last with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) calling for international bids for execution. The cables are to be laid based on the poles to be installed in alignment across the forests and there will be 100 cable-cars, each with a capacity to carry a maximum of 10 pilgrims. Moving at a speed of six meters per second, the cable-cars will take 20 minutes to reach the destination. Initial estimate is that the ropeway will facilitate transport of at least 2,000 devotees to the top in an hour. The fare is yet to be decided.