Benefits of Ropeways – UPSC GS3

Given that ropeway projects are built in a straight line over a hilly terrain, it also results in lower land acquisition costs.

Hence, despite having a higher cost of construction per km than roadways, ropeway projects’ construction cost may happen to be more economical than roadways.

Owing to the aerial mode of transportation, ropeways have an advantage over roadway projects where ropeways can be built in a straight line, over a hilly terrain.

Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed so as to rule out any soiling of the environment.

Ropeway projects adopting 3S (a kind of cable car system) or equivalent technologies can transport 6000-8000 passengers per hour.

Long rope spans: The system crosses obstacles like rivers, buildings, ravines, or roads without a problem.

Ropes guided over towers: Low space requirements on the ground, and no barrier for humans or animals.

Ropeway having multiple cars propelled by a single power-plant and drive mechanism.

This reduces both construction and maintenance costs.

The use of a single operator for an entire ropeway is a further saving, in labor cost.

On level ground, the cost of ropeways is competitive with narrow-gauge railroads, in the mountains the ropeway is far superior.

A ropeway allows for the simultaneous transport of different types of material.

Ropeways and cableways (cable cranes) can handle large slopes and large differences in elevation.

The fact that only narrow-based vertical supports are needed at intervals, leaving the rest of the ground free, makes it possible for ropeways to be constructed in built-up areas and in places where there is intense competition for land use.