Overview
- Ten electric buggies began operating inside the Mumbai park after an online launch by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and a flag‑off by Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik.
- At least eight vehicles will be driven by trained tribal women, who underwent roughly 1.5 years of instruction and are expected to ferry visitors up to the Kanheri Caves.
- Park officials say the e‑carts provide quieter, lower‑emission transport that reduces disturbance to wildlife while expanding paid work for local communities.
- At the event, Naik said encroachers and some tribal residents would be shifted to a 90‑acre Marol‑Maroshi plot in Aarey, with SRA buildings for slum dwellers and ground‑plus‑one homes for tribals to be built by MHADA.
- The relocation plan follows a Bombay High Court move to form a committee on encroachments and remains disputed by tribal residents and NGOs calling for consultation; the park is also exploring a restart of the Van Rani toy train.