In a groundbreaking move for urban mobility, Varanasi is set to become the first city in India to introduce a ropeway system as part of its public transportation network. The ₹807 crore project, spanning 3.75 kilometers, is expected to revolutionize travel in the densely populated spiritual capital. The ropeway will connect Varanasi Cantonment railway station to Godowlia Chowk, a bustling hub near the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple. With five strategically located stations and 153 gondolas capable of carrying 10 passengers each, the system is designed to transport up to 96,000 commuters daily. The journey, which currently takes 45–50 minutes by road, will be reduced to just 16 minutes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in March 2023, and construction began in May of the same year. Trial runs are scheduled for early 2025, with full operations expected to commence by September. Funded under a hybrid annuity model, the project is being executed by Vishwa Samudra Engineering in collaboration with Swiss firm Bartholet Maschinenbau AG. The ropeway will operate 16 hours a day and feature 30 support towers across its route. Officials say the system will ease congestion in Varanasi’s narrow lanes and improve access to key religious and tourist destinations. Once operational, it will join Bolivia’s Mi Teleférico and Mexico City’s Mexicable as one of only three urban public ropeways in the world.