Overview
- The Varanasi Development Authority, which finalised fares on Wednesday, set the end-to-end Cantonment–Godowlia ticket at Rs 50 and said shorter hops will cost less.
- A smart pass scheme was announced to cut costs for regular users, reducing the Cantonment–Godowlia trip to Rs 40 and the Vidyapeeth–Rath Yatra hop to Rs 8.
- Fares will rise by 5 percent each year from April 1 and the authority also specified passenger services including a cloakroom with the first two hours free and a Rs 50 per hour charge thereafter for baggage up to 15 kg.
- Officials estimate the ropeway will cut travel time on the route to about 15–16 minutes compared with 30–45 minutes by road, a change that could make commuting more reliable and boost visitor movement between key city points.
- The ropeway remains under construction with no launch date given and the planned 4.2 km system is reported to include about 220 cable cars, premium gondola bookings and mixed central and state funding with an expected completion window of roughly two years.