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Malanggad Funicular Opens After Two-Decade Wait, Cutting Shrine Ascent to 10 Minutes

The 1.2-km system, billed as India’s longest, begins service with two free days before a ₹150 round trip.

Overview

  • Inauguration took place on Sunday at the Haji Malang (Shri Malanggad) hill shrine near Kalyan, led by BJP MLAs Kisan Kathore and Sulabha Gaikwad.
  • Devotees no longer face a climb of roughly 2,500–2,600 steps that could take two to four hours, as the ride now takes about five to ten minutes.
  • The operator says each trip can carry up to 120 passengers, supported by a trained staff of around 70 personnel.
  • The project was executed on a Build–Operate–Transfer model and secured environmental clearances for work in an eco-sensitive zone, including cutting part of the hill for a 1.2-km two-way track.
  • Local coverage notes the absence of Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde at the launch, while officials expect easier access for residents and pilgrims and a tourism boost.