Varanasi: Ancient yet progressive Varanasi is set to achieve a global milestone by becoming India’s first and the world’s third city to introduce a ropeway as an urban public transport system. After Bolivia’s administrative capital La Paz and Mexico City, Kashi will soon offer ropeway travel to ease congestion in its densely populated core areas.
The 3.85-kilometre ropeway corridor from Varanasi Cantt Railway Station to Godowlia will reduce travel time to just 16 minutes, providing major relief from traffic snarls. The project is being constructed in accordance with international safety and operational norms laid down by the Central European Norms (CEN), a globally recognised standards agency for ropeway systems.
The ropeway is being built by Switzerland-based company Bartholet, with Swiss engineers handling installation work, while rope pulling has been executed by Austria’s expert firm Rope Experts using imported European drones and equipment. Trial runs are also being conducted by international specialists.
The route will have five stations—Cantt Railway Station, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Rath Yatra, Girja Ghar and Godowlia. A total of 148 gondolas, each with a capacity of 10 passengers, will operate for 16 hours daily. The system will be capable of carrying up to 6,000 passengers per hour in both directions, marking a major leap in Varanasi’s urban mobility infrastructure.
