Cities
The urban cable car in Varanasi: First test rides.
The Indian city of Varanasi is undergoing a historic transformation: with the first urban cable car, an efficient solution for the traffic chaos is being created. The cable car is scheduled to open in 2026, and construction is currently underway.
Progress at the construction site
The cable splicing work for the first section – from Varanasi Cantt Railway Station via the Vidya Peeth station to the Yatra station – has been successfully completed, and initial test rides have already taken place. Meanwhile, the supports for the second section, which will extend the route to the temple district of Godowlia Chowk, have been erected.
The cabins were developed in collaboration with the studio F. A. Porsche:
They are accessible, air-conditioned, and offer a unique view thanks to the panoramic glazing.
Technical details
The cable car extends over a total of 3,660 meters and will serve one of the busiest routes in the city with five stations. The route is divided into two sections, with the 148 10-person cabins being supported by 29 towers ranging in height from seven to 46 meters.
The maximum capacity is 3,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The operating speed is six meters per second, allowing the journey from terminal to terminal to be completed in just a few minutes.
Technical data:
10-PERSON CABLE CAR,
SECTIONS 1 + 2:
| Length | 2.290 m |
| Capacity | 3.000 P/h |
| Travel speed | 6 m/s |
| Power | 560 kW |
| Number of cabins | 90 |
| Number of towers | 18 |
Technical data:
10-PERSON CABLE CAR,
SEcTION 3 + 4:
| Length | 1.440 m |
| Capacity | 3.000 P/h |
| Travel speed | 6 m/s |
| Power | 415 kW |
| Number of cabins | 58 |
| Number of towers | 11 |
The project is being realized by the Swiss company BARTHOLET MASCHINENBAU AG in collaboration with Vishwa Samudra Engineering, commissioned by National Highways Logistics Management Ltd.
The entire system will be financed under a Public-Private Partnership model. The concessionaire, Vishwa Samudra Ropeways, will take over the operation of the cable car for 15 years after its commissioning.
