After more than a decade marked by delays, funding constraints and bureaucratic hurdles, the Malanggad Funicular Railway in Thane district was inaugurated on Sunday, promising to transform access to the historic hill fort. The 1.2-kilometre, cable-operated system is the first funicular railway of its kind in India and the longest in the country, reducing the arduous two-hour climb to Malang Gad to a smooth 10-minute ride.

The railway links the foothills to the hilltop that houses the historic Malanggad Fort, associated with the Maurya period, and the revered Mahadev Temple. Until now, visitors had to undertake a strenuous trek, making access particularly challenging for senior citizens, devotees and people with mobility limitations. With the railway’s long-awaited opening after 12 years, the site has become accessible to a wider cross-section of visitors, significantly enhancing inclusive heritage tourism.