India's First Urban Public Transport Ropeway Nears Completion, Trial Runs to Begin Soon.

The first urban public transport ropeway in India, located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is rapidly progressing, with three out of its five stations nearly ready for trial runs. The wire has been successfully installed on the ropeway’s pillars, and the stations at Cantt, Vidyapeeth, and Rathyatra are close to completion. Trial runs are set to begin within a month and are expected to last around 1.5 months, providing time to address any final adjustments.

This project, launched with the foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2023, is a significant infrastructure development for the city. Estimated at ₹650 crore, the ropeway is designed to ease urban transport and offer an eco-friendly commuting solution for Varanasi.

Kaushalraj Sharma, Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, shared that while three stations are almost finished, the project will be fully completed within six months. The second phase, which involves additional stations, is expected to be completed by May. Notable progress has been made on the Girijaghar station, and construction at the Godaulia station is set to begin soon. Due to limited space at Godaulia, the final station will be a three-story structure, with the passenger platform on the first floor and a shopping complex on the upper levels.

The updated design for the Godaulia station includes two staircases for better passenger movement, instead of the initial plan for four. The ropeway system is expected to handle around 6,000 commuters daily.

National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), the company executing the project, has confirmed that the work is complete and the system is ready for trial runs. Once operational, Varanasi will become the first city in India to introduce a public transport ropeway, transforming how residents and tourists travel within the city.

ET