The trial operations of the Varanasi ropeway project are currently in progress within the city. The project is planned to be fully operational by December. While facing previous delays, the administration is now focused on launching the service by the end of the year. This project will establish Varanasi as the first city in the nation with a ropeway transit system.
The trial runs began in July with the aim of evaluating the system’s operational effectiveness. The purpose of this phase is to address any issues to improve service quality. Initially, the target date for completion was September 30; however, the deadline has been extended to December. The ropeway route will connect Cantt to Godowlia, with five stations situated along the way: Varanasi Cantonment, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Rath Yatra, Girja Ghar, and Godowlia.
The ropeway is designed to reduce travel time, with a trip duration of about 15 minutes, compared to the 45-50 minutes typically taken by road. Efforts are being made to complete the project promptly for the scheduled December launch. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the project in March 2023.