New report on funicular rail to Matheran likely

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) may appoint Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) for the preparation of a fresh detailed project report (DPR) to construct a funicular railway track between Dudhani village near Panvel to Maillot spring point in Matheran.

An MMRDA official said, “We are in the process of appointing RITES for the construction of DPR for the project. Parallel to this, we are identifying the area that is under the jurisdiction of the forest department. Once we identify it, we would have to apply for permissions of having alignment of the project over the forests area.”

However, as the MMRDA had earlier prepared a DPR six years ago, the one prepared now would be an updated DPR. The estimated cost of the 20-km-route that would take 15 minutes to cover the distance was pegged at `100 crore back in 2010.

The MMRDA in May 2016 revived the plan of having a funicular railway track after proposing it back in 2010. The reason the authority had cited for reviving the project was the tourist flow in the hill station, with the Central Railways (CR) facing difficulties to operate its toy train between Aman Lodge and Matheran.

Earlier in May, the suspension of toy trains had led to irked hoteliers and residents of Matheran present their qualms to Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu. They requested him to tackle the problems they had to face due to the drop in tourists’ inflow caused by the termination of the train services.

The only alternative left for one to reach the hill station is by road. However, even that option comes to a close at Daturi, 3 km away from Matheran. Tourists then have to walk their way up to the hill station or ride a horse to reach it.