Varanasi: The 3.85-km Varanasi Ropeway Project from Cantt to Godowlia is nearing completion, with its overall physical progress reaching 94.35%.Once operational, the ropeway is expected to run for nearly 16 hours a day and carry 3,000 passengers per hour per direction. The journey from Cantt to Godowlia will take about 15 minutes. Passengers visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple can disembark at Godowlia, from where the shrine is barely 700 metres away.The journey between Godowlia and Cantt railway station is expected to take around 16 minutes. The ropeway will have 148 trolley cars, each with a capacity of 10 passengers, and is planned to operate for nearly 16 hours a day. Built at a cost of nearly Rs 800 crore, the state-of-the-art ropeway is expected to begin operations around Dev Deepawali, which falls on Nov 24.During a surprise on-site inspection of the ongoing project on Friday, Varanasi Divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam expressed displeasure over the slow pace of concessionaire-related works. He directed officials to complete all major finishing works by Sept 25 and speed up work on the foot overbridge and shikhar structure.He also instructed that escalators, lifts and railings be cleaned, while baggage scanners and door frame metal detectors be installed on priority.At Vidyapith station, he ordered the completion of stormwater interconnection work by Sept 15. He also directed officials to expedite testing of ticket vending machines and ticket office machines, along with paver work.The commissioner then inspected Rath Yatra station and directed officials to coordinate with the Jal Kal department to complete sewer and water line interconnection work by Sept 15. At Girjaghar station, he instructed that lighting and façade work be completed quickly.At Godowlia station, he directed that work on both the de-boarding and boarding sides be completed under all circumstances by Oct 31.NHLML project director Pooja Mishra and Concessionaire project director S Subba Rao were present during the inspection.The project is expected to ease traffic pressure on some of the city’s busiest roads while also emerging as a major attraction for visitors.
