VARANASI (Metro Rail News): The RITES Limited has now finalized the routes of light metro rail and ropeway project for Varanasi after receiving in-principal approval from Prime Minister’s Office.
The Ministry of Urban Development has given the funding consent to the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) after the in-principle approval of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The route and the action plan laid down before the project was approved, were presented by the RITES officials in a meeting chaired by the commissioner. The Light Metro rail and ropeway facility will be available on the outskirts of the city. The old city i.e. Pakka Mahal is kept separate from it
RITES has submitted a draft project report which is pegged at Rs 12,000 crore for smooth traffic by 2041 assuming the city’s population to be 38 lakh. This will also provide direct and indirect employment to a large number of unemployed people.
According to the proposal prepared by RITES, the light metro will operate from BHEL to BHU in Tarna. It will have 14 to 16 stations. At the same time, the route of the ropeway will be from the main Godoulia intersection of the city to Rath Yatra, beyond the Varanasi railway station to Khidkia Ghat. There is a plan to build the first Transport Hub site of its kind first time in the country at Khikkia Ghat.
Apart from this, the route is proposed through the Varuna Corridor from Windows Ghat to Cantt. RITES has also proposed to operate common buses including rapid buses in the city.
