India's Longest Funicular Railway Opens Near Malanggad Shrine in Thane

India's longest funicular railway, spanning 1.2 km near Malanggad in Thane district, has become operational, reducing the trek to the Haji Malang shrine from 2-3 hours to about 7-10 minutes. Proposed in 2004 and inspired by Swiss systems, the cable-driven railway overcomes steep terrain challenges and aims to ease access for devotees, especially the elderly and children. The project faced delays due to technical and safety approvals and was inaugurated recently, with a round trip costing Rs 150 and a capacity of 90 passengers per train.