Recently, a video of a gondola from the under-construction Varanasi Urban Ropeway went viral on social media. The gondola was seen swaying in the wind, which led many netizens to question its safety and criticise the authorities. Now, PIB Fact Check, the government’s official fact-checking handle, has stepped in to clear some facts. Here is what they said.
PIB Addresses Varanasi Ropeway Viral Video
If you are active on social media, you may have seen the viral video showing a ropeway cabin in Varanasi swinging like a pendulum. The clip led to many users questioning the project’s reliability, its design, and public safety. Some users even speculated that the video was AI-generated. While the video itself was real, the claims around it were not.
PIB Fact Check took to its official X account to clarify the facts. It addressed claims suggesting that the swinging gondola was unsafe or excessive. The government body dismissed these concerns by stating, “This claim is misleading.” According to PIB Fact Check, the swing seen in the video is part of a testing process. This testing is conducted to ensure the safe operation of the gondola ride.
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Why The Gondola Was Swaying
PIB Fact Check also clarified that the sway seen in the viral video is within the “permissible limits” specified under CEN standards. They added that emergency brakes were applied during tests conducted by the OEM team. This was done to check the maximum longitudinal sway as per permissible limits. The sway movements were controlled and remained within applicable standards.
PIB Fact Check further explained that flexibility in the suspension system is intentional. It is necessary to handle dynamic operational forces, wind loads, and acceleration-deceleration effects. This design ensures the ropeway functions normally after it becomes operational. Officials also confirmed that the swaying of the gondola does not indicate any structural, mechanical, or operational flaw.
According to a report by Republic World, the Kashi or Varanasi Ropeway is India’s first urban aerial cable car system. It is being built to connect Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station with Godowlia. Once operational, the ropeway is expected to cut travel time from 45 minutes to just 15 minutes. The project has an estimated cost of ₹800-815 crore and is currently in its testing phase.
Have you seen the viral video of the Varanasi ropeway gondola swinging?
Cover Image Courtesy: @nkk_123/ X
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