Ropeway in Varanasi: India’s First Public Aerial Transit System

Kashi Varanasi ropeway is an under construction aerial cable car urban transit system in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It will be the first public transport ropeway of India. It will be 3.75 km long with five stations connecting Varanasi Cantonment railway station to Godowlia Chowk. It is expected to open in August 2025.

🧭 Introduction: What Is the Kashi Ropeway?

The Kashi Ropeway in Varanasi is set to become India’s first urban public ropeway system, offering fast, eco-friendly travel between the city’s most visited areas. Designed to ease congestion and enhance the pilgrimage experience, it’s a bold step toward modernizing Varanasi’s ancient lanes.

Technical features

The line will be 3.75 km (2.33 mi) long. It will operate from Varanasi Cantonment railway station to Godowlia Chowk. It will have three other stations: Kashi Vidyapith (Bharat Mata Mandir), Rath Yatra and Girja Ghar. There will be no passenger exchange at Girja Ghar Total 30 towers with height ranging from 10 to 55 metre will be constructed

It is expected to transport 96,000 passengers per day. It will have a maximum capacity of 3000 passengers per hour per direction. It will have 153 cars with capacity of 10 passengers each. It will operate 16 hours a day and will complete the trip in 16 minutes.

🛠️ Construction & Timelines

• Foundation stone laid by PM Modi in March 2023 economictimes.indiatimes.com+9blognhai.wordpress.com+9visitvaranasi.in+9.
• Construction undertaken by Vishwa Samudra Engineering in partnership with Switzerland’s Bartholet Maschinenbau AG, under a ₹645–807 crore investment via the Hybrid Annuity Modelindiatimes.com+3visitvaranasi.in+3nbmcw.com+3.
• Three major stations (Cantt, Vidyapeeth, Rath Yatra) were completed by early 2025, with equipment and gondolas installedindiatimes.com+14hindustantimes.com+14infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com+14.
• Trial ring started in March 2025 between Cantt and Rath Yatra; aiming for full operation by August/September 2025

🚡 Varanasi Ropeway Route & Stations

The ropeway will span 3.75 km from Cantonment Railway Station to Godowlia Chowk, covering five stations:

1. Varanasi Cantonment
2. Vidyapeeth (Bharatmala Mandir)
3. Rathyatra
4. Girja Ghar (technical stop)
5. Godowlia

🔁 Travel Time:

• End-to-end: ~16 minutes
• Compared to 45–60 minutes by road!

🛠️ Key Features & Technical Details

• Length: 3.75–4.2 km
• Capacity: 3,000 passengers/hour/direction
• Cabins: 153 gondolas (10 passengers each)
• Travel Frequency: 90 seconds
• Operational Hours: ~16 hours/day
• Estimated Cost: ₹645–807 crore

✅ Technology Highlights:

• Powered by Austrian firm Doppelmayr
• Fully electric, eco-friendly cabins
• Air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible gondolas

🏗️ Current Construction Status (June 2025)

• 87% work completed at 3 of 5 stations
• Trial runs began in March 2025
• Full launch expected in August 2025
• Pending legal clearance on Godowlia land acquisition

🌿 Benefits of the Varanasi Ropeway

Benefit	Description
🛕 Improved Pilgrimage Access	Easier connection to Kashi Vishwanath Temple & Ghats
🏙️ Traffic Decongestion	Reduces vehicle load on narrow roads
♻️ Eco-Friendly	Electric-powered = zero emissions
🔁 Time-Saving	Reduces 1-hour traffic jams to 16-minute rides
🛍️ Tourism Boost	Enhances tourist experience + supports local economy

🎨 Design: Where Tradition Meets Technology

Each station is designed to reflect spiritual and cultural symbols of Kashi:

• Trishul (trident)
• Damaru (Shiva’s drum)
• River Ganga motifs
• Ancient temple-inspired interiors

This fusion aims to preserve heritage while modernizing transit.

Estimated Fair; What We Know (or Can Estimate):

As of now, official fare details for the Varanasi (Kashi) ropeway haven’t been announced by authorities—NHLML (National Highways Logistics Management Ltd.) is still finalizing tariff structure reddit.com+15hindustantimes.com+15swarajyamag.com+15.

• A 2021 New Indian Express report mentioned a possible fare of ₹30 — though this figure is speculative and likely out of date newindianexpress.com.

• Discussions suggest the fare will be comparable to other affordable city transit like auto-rickshaws, aiming for accessibility gangatimes.com+1reddit.com+1.

• Reddit users have noted that certain users expect the ropeway to be priced slightly higher than ordinary public transport

🔮 Future Impact on Varanasi

• Model for other crowded cities like Haridwar, Ayodhya, or Shimla
• Expected to transform urban mobility and religious tourism in India
• Potential job creation for over 300+ locals
• Reduced vehicle pollution = cleaner Ganga ecosystem

💬 What Locals Are Saying

“We’ve waited years for this. My shop is near Rathyatra, and this ropeway could double footfall!”
— Raju Mishra, local vendor

“It’s a blessing. Elderly pilgrims often struggle with walking. This will help us a lot.”
— Kamla Devi, temple visitor

📝 Final Thoughts

The Kashi Ropeway is more than just a transport project—it’s a symbol of progress rooted in tradition. As Varanasi continues to evolve, this ropeway will redefine how millions experience the spiritual capital of India.

📢 FAQs About the Kashi Ropeway

1. When will the Kashi Ropeway start?
   👉 Expected launch: August 2025
2. What is the total distance of the Kashi Ropeway?
   👉 Around 3.75 to 4.2 km
3. Is the ropeway open to locals?
   👉 Yes, it is designed for both pilgrims and daily commuters

🔗 Internal Linking Suggestions

• Top 10 Things to Do in Varanasi
• How to Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Kashi’s GI-Tagged Crafts You Must See

References;

1. ^“Kashi ropeway project on track; likely to start in Aug”. The Times of India. 6 March 2025.
2. ^ Jump up to:^ab c d “Varanasi: Execution of Kashi ropeway project likely after October 14”. The Times of India. 10 October 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
3. ^Shah, Narendra (30 December 2019). “RITES to Submit light metro and ropeway project DPR for Varanasi”. Metro Rail News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
4. ^ Jump up to:^ab c d “Varanasi news today: PM Modi lays foundation of India’s first public transport ropeway worth Rs 645 crores in Kashi – Check Varanasi ropeway project map, tender and other details”. TimesNow. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
5. ^ Jump up to:^ab c “Two bidders in race for Kashi ropeway project”. The Times of India. 1 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
6.  tripvaranasi.com 

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