Sources have told The Indian Express that a meeting between Union Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel and Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was held recently, wherein the Culture Ministry is learnt to have assured the latter of “extending full cooperation” on the project.

Pitted as the country’s first and longest ropeway project over the sea, the initiative is to be executed by the Mumbai Port Trust, under the Ministry of Shipping.

The Elephanta caves, located on the Elephanta Islands, off Mumbai, was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, due to which clearance will have to be taken from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), besides the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and the Ministry of Environment.

While all other clearances had already been obtained, the clearance from ASI (which functions under the Ministry of Culture) is yet to be received.

Sources said that post the meeting, the required approval, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, is likely to come in soon, as “both the ministries have discussed all the details regarding the project”.

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