The Bombay Aerial Ropeways Rules, 1959

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 45 of the Bombay Aerial Ropeways Act, 1955 (Bom. III of 1956) the Government of Bombay hereby makes the rules, as follows:--

1. These rules may be called the Bombay Aerial Ropeways Rules, 1959.

2. An Inspector shall be technical advisor to the State Government regarding work of public safely any convenience and the general working of aerial ropeways and such other matters as may be referred to him connections with aerial ropeways.

3. Where motive power to be used on an aerial ropeways is electrical power, the promoter shall obtain motive power for the main traction rope from the nearest electric lines preferably, with duplicate feeders, and shall provide for an auxiliary independent source of the power under his direct control which can be called in service immediately in the event of failure or the supply shall be such as to be sufficient for bringing the statndard carries to the nearest station.

4. The maximum gradient of the aerial ropway shall not exceed 45 per cent.

5. (1) The minimum safely factor on the rope stress shall be 4.00

(2) Trestles, station buildings, rope anchorages, foundations and other civil engineering structures shall be according to the relevant codes and standards of the Indian Standard Institution, execpt that no increment in the allowable working stress shall be permitted for inclusion of wind load in the analysis. The external forces tasken as basis for the calculation of the supports and their   foundation shall also consists of the dead weight of the supports, the rope pressure, the weight of  the fully loaded carriers, the effect of starting and stopping of the carriers. The promoter of every ropeway system shall ensure that trestles, station buildings, rope anchorage, foundation and other  civil engineering structures have a minimum factor of safety of 4 on the breaking stress after taking into consideration the stress caused by all the aforesaid forces.

(3)  The height and the distance of the supports shall be arranged in manner that the minimum height of the lower edge of the carrier above the ground except within the station limits shall be 12 feet and such clearance over the highways, canals, rivers and other public places shall be determilned by a reference to the authorities in charge of them :

Provided that, such clearances over main roads shall not be less than 20 feet.

6. (1)  The driving unit of the ropeways shall be provided with two brakes acting totally independent of each other and one of them driving sheave. One of these brakes shall be brought into engagement automatically in the following cases by suitable safety circuilts, namely:-

(a)  at disconnection of the driving power,viz,in the case of break down of machines, interruption of current :

(b)  when exceeding the maximum speed by 10 per cent

(c)  when actuating the various emergency push-buttons  (such push- buttons shall be provided in the stations, in the driver's stand and in the carriers in order to ensure an immediate stoppage of the ropeway in the case of danger);

(d)  when exceeding the normal limits positions of the carriers in the stations.

All brakes shall be adjustable and controllable with normal effort; they shall be so arrange so that they can be re-adjusted in a simple manner from the driver's stand.

(2)  An auxiliary traction rope shall be provided to drive the carrier in the event of breakage of the main traction rope. Hand brakes shall also be provided to control the main drive, shaft and the motor shaft of each of the two drives. Alternatively, carrying rope clamp breaking, clamping the carriages to the carrying ropes.

(3)  Drivers shall be subject-offs by manipulation from station as well as carrier. Automatic switch-offs and buffer shall be provided at the end of the line. The rope anchorages shall be founded independent of the station building.

7. (1) The carrier shall be closed from all sides and the doors and windows shall be provided with safety lock.

(2)  The carrier shall be furnished with inside and outside illumination, signals and telephonic connections with both station and in the driving station there shall be provided speed indicator and a carrier position indicator to indicate the exact position of the carrier if the sight is bad.

(3) The weight of the carrier shall be evenly distributed over a minimum of 4 wheels in case of carrier designed to carry a maximum of 4 passengers and over a minimum of 8 wheels in the case of larger carrier.  The total carrying capacity of the carrier in tones and in number of passengers shall be distinctly marked on it and either condition shall be satisfied before switching the drive on.

(4) Oscillations in the carrier in the travelling direction as well as in the lateral direction shall be prevented with suitable dampers.

(5) The running mechanism shall be provided with suitable lubrication apparatus for continuous lubrication while in motion.

(6) A hatch for exit and special lowering device shall be provided in the cabin of each carrier to enable the conductor to lower the passengers to the ground in an emergency.

8. The maxim travelling speed of the carrier shall not exceed 5 meters per second.

9. (1) Explosives shall not be carried in any carrier.

(2) Passengers and their permitted shall not exceed the specified laden weight capacity of the carrier.

(3) No animal shall be permitted to be carried in the carrier for passengers:

Provided that pet animals may be carried through a separate carrier provided for the purpose

10. Whenever an aerial ropeways passes over a mining area, the promoter shall acquire the sub- soil right for the proper support of his trestles and stations.

11. Inspection for the purposes of sub-section (3) 21 shall be made so far as may be in accordance with the provisions of section 14.

12. For the response of erecting, examining, repairing, altering or enclosed garden appurtenant to any building under, over, along, across or upon which the ropeway is to be or has been installed, without giving previous notice of at least 7 days of his intention to do so to the owner or occupier of the property:

Provided that, the promoter may, for the purposes of preventing any accident, enter such property without such notice, but shall immediately thereafter make a report of the action taken by him to the Inspector and the Collector and send an intimation of such action to the owner or occupier of the property.

13. The State Government specifies accident of the following description to be accident for the purposes of clause (C) of section 20, namely;

(i) derailment of a carrier outside the station buildings;

(ii) displacement of carrier outside the station buildings

(iii) damage of trestles;

(iv) a carrier striking a trestles or other permanent objects;or

(v) an accident tipping of bucket along the line