Roapeway to link Mumbai, Elephanta Island

The Unesco World Heritage site of  Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai  will be connected by India's first and longest sea roapeway. This project is envisaged  by the Mumbai Port Trust, (MbPT) according to the Economic Times report. The roapway will cover the distance of  8-km. It will start from Sewri in Mumbai's east coast and go upto Elephanta Island, famous as Elephanta Caves. This site is also known as Gharapuri Caves. This island is 16 sq. km and possesses many archaeological remains like temples carved out of rocks. Presently, about 5,000 domestic and foreign tourists visit Elephanta Island daily. It is habited by1,200 residents which includes  fishermen and farmers. They live in the three small port villages known as Rajbandar, Morabandar and Shentbandar. Evidence of human settlement  has been found on the island from 2nd century BC. The rock-cut temples are said to have been created about  5th-6th century AD. A pre-bid meeting  was held by MbPT. Several  consortiums with technical expertise to implement roapway were present.The roapway ride will take about 40-minutes. The cable cars will be 20-seaters,  having panoramic views of  Mumbai Trans Harbour Link to the north, mudflats and mangroves,  on the east coast. The proposed sea roapway will certainly be a hit with tourists as an added attraction.