Varanasi Prepares for Trial of India’s First Public Transport Ropeway

17 Jan 2025 CW Team

The first urban public transport ropeway in India, located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is nearing completion, with three of its five stations almost ready for trial runs. The cable has been successfully installed on the ropeway’s supporting pillars, and the Cantt, Vidyapeeth, and Rathyatra stations are nearly finished. Trials are set to begin within a month and are expected to last about six weeks to address any final issues.

This major infrastructure project, which was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began with the laying of the foundation stone in March 2023.

Estimated to cost Rs 650 crore, the ropeway aims to alleviate traffic congestion and provide an eco-friendly transport alternative in Varanasi, a city known for its busy streets and tourism.

Kaushalraj Sharma, Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, stated, ""The construction is almost finished, but some time is still required. We expect trials to start within a month, with the full project likely to be completed in six months.""

Phase two of the project, covering additional stations, is set to be completed by May. Significant progress has been made on the Girijaghar station, while construction at the Godaulia station is set to begin soon. Due to limited space at Godaulia, the final station will be built on the ground and will include a three-storey building with shopping areas on the upper floors.

The system is expected to serve up to 6,000 commuters daily, with a redesigned layout featuring two staircases for better passenger flow.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..