Q. What is/are the advantages of promoting ropeways as a means of transportation?
1.Ideal for difficult, challenging terrains
2.Faster mode of transportation
3.No need for geological and environmental studies
Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
Answer: A
Notes:
The major advantages of ropeways include,
- Ideal for difficult / challenging / sensitive terrain
- 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.
- Environmentally friendly: Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed so as to rule out any soiling of the environment.
- Faster mode of transportation: 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.
- Economical mode of transportation: 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 economical than roadways.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Ropeways may be environmentally less harmful in general but they are vulnerable in the fragile ecosystems like the Himalayas. Hence, they should be constructed only if geological studies and environmental impact assessment reports don’t highlight any serious concerns.
Source: PIB
