Pune’s proposed Sarasbaug-Parvati ropeway has moved into the project preparation stage after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee approved the appointment of a project management consultant on Saturday. The consultant will examine the project’s technical and financial feasibility, prepare the detailed project report (DPR), estimate costs and oversee the tendering process.
The proposed ropeway is planned to connect Peshwe Park with Parvati Hill over an approximately 750-metre route. According to the project plan, the system will have five towers ranging from 12 metres to 40 metres in height and 22 cabins, with each cabin carrying eight passengers.
The journey is expected to take around two-and-a-half minutes. The planned system is designed to transport 1,500 passengers per hour in one direction. The PMC has proposed the project as a tourism-oriented infrastructure initiative for Pune.
Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale announced the decision. The civic body had invited tenders for appointing the consultant in August 2026. The proposed consultancy fee is 1.27% of the total project cost or a minimum of Rs 2.54 crore, whichever is higher. Goods and Services Tax and other applicable taxes will be charged separately.
The PMC has allocated Rs 1 crore for the project in its 2026-27 budget. However, the civic body has said it does not have the specialised technical manpower required to plan and implement infrastructure involving electrical and mechanical systems. This is the stated reason for bringing in an external consultant at the current stage.
The consultant’s work will include inspecting the proposed site, preparing the DPR, developing cost estimates and drafting tender conditions. It will also identify the government approvals required before implementation. The consultant will examine whether the ropeway can be developed through a Public-Private Partnership or under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer model.
The appointed agency will also assess technical and financial bids submitted by interested companies and oversee the process up to the issuance of the work order. These responsibilities mean that the consultant’s role will extend beyond preparing a feasibility document to supporting the PMC through the proposed procurement process.
The Standing Committee’s approval does not constitute a final decision to construct the ropeway. The project’s implementation will be considered after the consultant submits its report on feasibility, cost, approvals and the viability of the proposed delivery models. The next formal milestone is therefore the preparation and submission of the consultant’s DPR.
