📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Pierre-Emmanuel BOITON
Travel
India's First Public Transport Ropeway Launched in Varanasi Cuts Commute to 15 Minutes
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 05:25 AM
👁 15
India's inaugural public‑transport ropeway has begun operations in Varanasi, slashing a typical 45‑minute road trip to just 15 minutes.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed the launch of India's first ropeway dedicated to public transport, a project aimed at easing the city's notorious traffic congestion. The aerial system connects two busy points across the Ganges, offering commuters a swift alternative to road travel.
According to the operators, the ropeway reduces the usual 45‑minute journey through city streets to a 15‑minute ride, cutting travel time by two‑thirds. The service runs at regular intervals throughout the day, providing a reliable option for daily commuters and tourists alike.
State officials highlighted that the ropeway is expected to decongest major arterial roads and improve air quality by shifting a portion of vehicular traffic to the sky. The inauguration marks a milestone in India's urban mobility strategy, with plans to evaluate the model for replication in other traffic‑choked cities.
Local residents expressed optimism, noting that the new link could make commuting less stressful and more predictable. The ropeway is also being promoted as a tourist attraction, offering panoramic views of the historic cityscape.
The project, funded jointly by the state government and central agencies, underscores a growing emphasis on innovative, low‑carbon transport solutions in India's rapidly urbanising landscape.
According to the operators, the ropeway reduces the usual 45‑minute journey through city streets to a 15‑minute ride, cutting travel time by two‑thirds. The service runs at regular intervals throughout the day, providing a reliable option for daily commuters and tourists alike.
State officials highlighted that the ropeway is expected to decongest major arterial roads and improve air quality by shifting a portion of vehicular traffic to the sky. The inauguration marks a milestone in India's urban mobility strategy, with plans to evaluate the model for replication in other traffic‑choked cities.
Local residents expressed optimism, noting that the new link could make commuting less stressful and more predictable. The ropeway is also being promoted as a tourist attraction, offering panoramic views of the historic cityscape.
The project, funded jointly by the state government and central agencies, underscores a growing emphasis on innovative, low‑carbon transport solutions in India's rapidly urbanising landscape.