VS Engg secures order worth ₹807 crore to build India's first Urban Ropeway in Varanasi

Varanasi, India (Urban Transport News): The National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), a subsidiary of NHAI, has awarded a contract worth Rs 807 crore (US$1.6 million) to Vishwa Samudra Engineering Private Limited, which has secured the technology and equipment supply from a Swiss firm that specialises in ropeway systems, for building 3.85 km Urban Ropeway Project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The contract order includes 15-years maintenance of ropeway system after commissioning.

This would be India's first 'urban ropeway' project to be built in Varanasi which is likely to start operations from May 2025. The work on this project will likely to start by May 2023.

The urban ropeway system will reduce the travel time between the Cantonment railway station and Godowalia Chowk, one of the most congested stretches, to barely 17 minutes. At present, the same distance could take more than an hour if there is traffic congestion.

According to the design, five stations will come up on this Ropeway project at Varanasi Cantonment, Vidya Peeth (Bharatmala Mandir), Rath Yatra, Girja Ghar and Godowlia Chowk. Girja Ghar will be only a technical station where Boarding or Deboarding will not be allowed. A total of 30 towers will be built for the ropeway and the height of the towers will vary from 10 meters to 55 meters.

The National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML) will decide the ticket price for ropeway users. A policy on the ticketing will be framed as the Centre has planned to roll out several such ropeway projects across the country in urban areas and to connect tourist places.

"Vishwa Samudra Engineering and its technology partner Bartholet Maschinenbau AG of Switzerland have bagged the Varanasi ropeway project. The company quoted a bid price of Rs 815.6 crore, which is 17% higher than the estimated bid price. The ropeway will be developed on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) wherein 60% of the project cost will be paid as a construction support during the construction period and the remaining 40% will be paid as annuity during the operation and maintenance period," said an official.

The connectivity project has been designed with a maximum capacity to carry 3,000 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) with a total operation time of 16 hours per day. It is capable of carrying passenger load of about 96,000 passengers per day in both directions. Around 153 gondolas or cabins would be deployed on this stretch and each gondola will have the capacity to carry 10 passengers.

Ghaziabad-based GEO technical firm Sai Geotechnical Engineer Pvt. Ltd. has started geotechnical investigation work for this ropeway project after deploying 3 rigs at various locations in Varanasi. 

The Uttar Pradesh government is acquiring the land for ropeway stations and towers. It is also shifting the utilities infringing with the ropeway alignment.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for two ropeways in Uttarakhand - Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Gobindghat to Hemkund - and these will also be awarded soon. Bids for two other urban ropeways for Ghaziabad and Indore will also be floated soon.