PM Modi lays foundation stone for India’s first public ropeway in Varanasi

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the India’s first urban transport ropeway on March 24, 2023, in Varanasi.
• This is the first urban ropeway project in the country.
• Key Features
  • The total cost incurred for this ropeway project is around Rs 645 crore.
  • Once the project becomes functional, India will become the third country in the world to use a ropeway for public transportation. Till date such facility is operational only in Bolivia and Mexico City,
  • The project will be constructed by Vishwa Samudra, National Highways Logistics Private Limited (NHLML) in collaboration with Switzerland-based firm Bartholet.
  • The 3.75-km long ropeway system will have five stations and will function between Varanasi Cantonment and Godowlia Chowk.
  • The five stations are, Vidya Peeth, Bharatmala Mandir, Rath Yatra, Girja Ghar and Godowlia Chowk.
  • It will feature a trolley with a capacity of 10 passengers running at an interval of every two minutes.
  • Through ropeway, the entire 3.75 km distance will be covered in 16 minutes. It will be operational for 16 hours per day.
  • The ropeway in Varanasi would serve as a faster and economical mode of transportation, saving time and money for the tourists.