The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has dropped the proposed Rs 100-crore funicular railway (cable car) project for Matheran, a hill station near Mumbai.

According to a report in TOI, the reason for shelving the project was that it would prove unviable in the long run. A feasibility survey was undertaken, tenders for the project floated and some parties had even showed interest in the project, but the axe fell before it could take off. A ropeway had also been planned by the state PWD for Matheran.

The MMRDA's plan was to connect Dodhani to Matheran town—a distance of 1.3 km by funicular railway. Dodhani is accessible by road from Panvel. Thousands of tourists would have benefitted from the project, which was part of the MMRDA's plan to enhance infrastructure development in the region.

"The railway would have helped transport not only people, but also goods and commodities needed in the town," an MMRDA official said. "The government should now push ahead with its ropeway project so that the town becomes more tourism-friendly," he added.