6000 PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL ON 90 FEET GONDOLAS AT THE HEIGHT OF 150 FEET

6000 PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL ON 90 FEET GONDOLAS AT THE HEIGHT OF 150 FEET

1-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

VARANASI---------------------A big gift received by Banaras is going to come to the ground soon. 90 high-tech gondolas were tested on Wednesday under the ropeway project being prepared at a cost of about 644.49 crores. This is the first time that the gondola has been tested by landing it on the route. Earlier, the trial was being done through the model only.

The government is paying special attention to safety and ease in the operation of the ropeway. To ensure the safety and technical strength of the ropeway project, 90 gondolas are being tested for the construction of the first section by a team of expert engineers from Austria. The work of the first section is proposed to be completed by September.

According to Pooja Mishra, Project Manager of National Highway Authority of India, the first section of the first phase of the ropeway is being tested from Cantt Ropeway Station to Rathyatra Ropeway Station. The purpose of this test is to ensure smooth and safe operation of the ropeway. Three gondolas are being run at a time. In the commissioning of the ropeway, the gondola, motor, cable, control system, safety, speed, braking etc. are being checked to ensure that it is completely safe and working properly. So that any flaws can be rectified in advance. According to Pooja Mishra, the testing work which started on July 14 will be completed in about a month. 90 gondolas will be run and tested. The entire commissioning work is being done by a team of engineers of Austria's Lightner Company. According to the officials associated with the project, this test is an important phase for ropeway operation. The operation of the ropeway will be ensured only after checking all the standards of safety. According to Pooja Mishra, the construction of the ropeway is being done at a fast pace so that the tourists visiting Kashi can get good pollution free transport facilities. In the first section, the first station of the ropeway will be Cantt Ropeway Station, the second will be Vidyapeeth Station and the third station will be Rathyatra. In the second section, from Rathyatra to Godaulia, work is also going on at a fast pace. After its completion, gondola will be available to the passengers from Cantt to Godaulia at an interval of every one and a half to two minutes.

According to Pooja Mishra, 3000 people will be able to travel in one direction in an hour, that is, 6,000 people will be able to come and go from both directions in an hour. It will take about 16 minutes to reach Cantt Railway Station from Godaulia, about 148 trolley cars will run. 10 passengers can travel in one trolley. The ropeway will operate for 16 hours.

According to the officials of National Highway Logistics Private Limited, the journey from Cantt Railway Station to Godaulia Square, near Vishwanath Temple, will be completed in about 15 minutes by ropeway, which earlier used to be completed in about 45 minutes by road transport. This journey will take about 65 percent less time than other modes of transport. The distance of Rath Yatra from Cantt by ropeway is 2.4 kilometers. It will take about 6.51 minutes to cover it. The operation of ropeway will provide great relief from the problem of traffic jam. Gondola will be available to passengers at an interval of every one and a half to two minutes from Cantt to Godaulia.