PLANS for a �25 million Thames cable car could get the go ahead from Newham Council tonight.

A recommendation for approval will be submitted to the council’s Strategic Development Committee for the 50-metre high, 1,100-metre long crossing, which will run from the ExCeL centre in the Royal Docks to the O2 Arena in North Greenwich.

With a journey time of five minutes, the car will be able to carry up to 2,500 people an hour in each direction.

Transport for London (TfL) hopes to launch the crossing ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

Plans include two towers in North Woolwich at Clyde Wharf, north-west of Bell Lane and south-west of Silvertown Way and Dock Road, as well as a two-storey station in the Royal Docks, including a concourse, ticket office, retail space and cable car arrival and departure platform.