From 45 to 15 minutes: Forget crawling through Varanasi traffic, India's first public transport ropeway will take you above city's busy roads; watch viral video

Getting around Varanasi can be a test of patience, particularly when traffic builds up around its busy roads and popular ghats. A journey from Varanasi Cantt Railway Station to Godowlia Chowk, which can take around 45 minutes by road, could soon become much quicker. The city is preparing to introduce India's first public transport ropeway, which is expected to cover the same stretch in just 15 to 16 minutes. With the project nearing its anticipated opening later this year, a content creator has offered a glimpse of the experience through a video shared on Instagram. The clip captures the ropeway cabins gliding above the city's crowded roads, railway infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods.

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A post shared by Mehul Malviya | Avimukt Kashii (@avimuktkashii_)

Varanasi ropeway video shows cabins moving above busy roads

The video offers a look inside the ropeway cabins as they travel across the city. Each cabin has space for multiple passengers, while its design draws inspiration from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Varanasi's famous ghats.

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As the ride continues, the cabins pass over some of the city's busiest stretches, where road traffic often slows down everyday travel. The footage also captures views of railway facilities and residential areas from above.

For commuters and visitors, the ropeway is expected to offer an alternative to navigating congested roads, particularly while travelling between the railway station and the areas around Godowlia.

What people said about the Varanasi ropeway video

The Instagram video drew mixed reactions, with viewers commenting on the views from the cabins, the city's appearance and the infrastructure upgrade. While several users welcomed the project and appreciated the use of public money, others suggested that rooftops across the city could be painted in uniform colours to improve the overall view. Some also felt that exploring Varanasi on foot offered a more immersive experience than viewing the city from above.

Varanasi ropeway project: Route, stations and cost

The Varanasi public transport ropeway is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 645 crore and will cover approximately 4.2 km. The project is planned with around 220 cable cars, each capable of carrying up to 10 passengers.

The route will have five stations:

• Varanasi Cantt
• Kashi Vidyapith
• Rath Yatra
• Girjaghar
• Godowlia Chowk

The project is being developed with the involvement of Swiss company Bartholet Maschinenbau AG and Indian firm Vishwa Samudra Engineering Private Limited.

Once operational, the ropeway is expected to reduce travel time between Varanasi Cantt and Godowlia significantly. Besides offering visitors a new way to see the city, it is intended to provide commuters with an alternative to road travel in one of Varanasi's busiest areas.