The Thane Police in Maharashtra on Wednesday denied viral social media claims suggesting that the newly-inaugurated Malanggad funicular railway had malfunctioned and that passengers were stranded inside the trolley.
Officials clarified that the service was temporarily suspended only for routine maintenance and is now operating normally.
A senior police officer from Ulhasnagar said there was no technical fault or safety concern with the railway, which connects the foothills to the Shri Malanggad shrine.
“There is absolutely no issue with the funicular railway. It was shut from Tuesday afternoon only for maintenance work. Once the work was completed, services resumed smoothly on Wednesday afternoon,” said Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Shivle.
Viral messages termed misleading
Shivle said messages circulating on social media claimed that the railway had got stuck and that several passengers were trapped inside the trolley.
“These messages are incorrect and misleading. No such incident took place,” he said, adding that services are currently running without any disruption.
The officer acknowledged that the system has been under heavy pressure due to the ongoing yatra season, with a sharp rise in the number of devotees.
“The footfall has increased manifold. Preventive maintenance was urgently required to ensure passenger safety,” he explained.
India’s longest funicular railway
The 1.2-kilometre-long Malanggad funicular railway, touted as India’s longest, was inaugurated on January 18, 2026.
The project was designed to reduce the two to three-hour uphill trek to the Haji Malang Dargah and Malanggad shrine to a 10-minute ride, making access easier for devotees.
“The railway is functioning safely. People should rely only on official information and not panic due to rumours,” Shivle said.
Malanggad funicular railway opens after 12 years, cuts journey to 10 minutes
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.
The project, initiated in 2013, encountered multiple setbacks over the years owing to technical upgrades, funding issues and administrative changes. Despite these challenges, its completion is being hailed as a landmark achievement for tourism and public access to historic sites.
(with PTI inputs)
