Varanasi Development Authority Invites Bids For Construction Of 5 Km Ropeway In PPP Mode At Rs 410 crores

Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is set to become the first Indian city to use the ropeway services in public transportation with Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) floating the tender for the project on Nov 13.

VDA has invited bids for the development of ropeway between Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station And Girja Ghar Chauraha on public-private partnership mode at the cost of Rs 410.30 crores. The interested bidders need to submit their proposals by Dec 11, 2021.

The pilot ropeway service will cover a distance of 5 kms. It will deploy 220 cable cars with each cable car will have 10 seats. The main terminus of the ropeway will be at Cantonment railway station while other stations will be at Sajan, Rathyatra and Girjaghar (Godowlia) crossings. The stations built for the ropeway will show a glimpse of Kashi’s art, religion and culture.

The cars will move in a gap of 90 seconds to 120 seconds. Around 4,000 people will be able to travel in one direction at a time. The ropeway service will also operate during the night.

A turning line will be created between Cantt railway station and Sajan crossing. Four stations of ropeway services pilot phase will be at the height of above 11 mtr and each station will be equipped with escalators.

The cost of the project will be divided between the Centre and the state government at 80:20.

WAPCOS , a government-owned firm that provides consultancy services in the fields of water resources, power and infrastructure, was roped in for helping VDA with the conceptualisation of ropeway project in the city.

Vaarnasi will be the select cities in the world to use a ropeway for public transport. La Paz in Bolivia, Mexico City in Mexico and Medellín in Colombia are among the cities that use ropeway for public transport.

La Paz in Bolivia has the world’s largest high-altitude urban cable-car system. Spread over a deep, wide canyon, La Paz’s districts range from 3,170m (10,150 feet) to 3,600m (11,800 feet) above sea level. The city's ropeway service, called “Mi Teleférico”, was constructed by Austrian firm Doppelmey. It cost an estimated $700 million and covers a distance of 28 kms