Explained: India's first urban ropeway is almost here. Can Varanasi's sky-high commute change how Indian cities travel?

Varanasi is set to launch India's first urban public transport ropeway connecting Varanasi Cantonment railway station to Godowlia Chowk.

The ropeway will reduce travel time between Cantt and Godowlia from 40-45 minutes by road to about 15 minutes.

The ropeway is designed as an urban mass transit system, not a tourist attraction, with gondolas suspended 45-50 metres above the ground.

The project is a test case for aerial mobility in heritage cities, potentially influencing future urban development across India.

Urban ropeways are rare globally, with only a handful of cities integrating them into public transport networks.