Varanasi is set to pioneer India’s first urban public transport ropeway, a Rs 807 crore project aimed at easing city travel and reducing road congestion.

Covering 3.75 km, the system will link Banaras Cantt Railway Station with Godowlia Chowk, slashing travel time from “45-50 minutes by road to just 15 minutes.” Authorities have yet to finalise fares but promised affordability. Trial runs began in March with a single gondola on the Cantt-Rathyatra stretch, later expanded with more cars to test efficiency.

Project Director Pooja Mishra of National Highway Logistics Management (NHLML) stated that three months of trials helped fine-tune operations. The ropeway will feature three stations—Cantt, Vidyapeeth, and Rathyatra—equipped with modern amenities such as automatic stairs, lifts, wheelchair ramps, restrooms, parking, and shopping areas. Around 150 gondolas will run at 45-50 mtrs. height, each carrying up to 10 passengers. With arrivals every 1.5–two minutes and daily operations spanning 16 hours, the system promises modern, continuous, and accessible transport for both residents and tourists.