KusTba in 7 Minutes with the Renovated Cable-Car

TBILISI - The renovated cable-car to Tbilisi’s Turtle Lake has returned to serve Tbilisi locals and visitors. The transport can take people from Chavchavadze Avenue to Turtle Lake in just 7 minutes.

After a 7-year break, the renovated two-car cableway will be able to transport around 2,000 people per day, which will help to reduce road traffic to the Lake, located at the top of a hill that overlooks the central Vake district.

Tbilisi City Hall allocated 1.1 million GEL (about USD 469 thousand) to local company Bagirmsheni to restore the old cableway. Though the cable cars were renovated, their original 1965 design was maintained.

Before its official opening earlier this month, Tbilisi City Hall tested the new cable car over several days to ensure its safety.

A one way ticket costs 1 GEL. One cable car can carry 10-12 people and both cars are adapted for people with wheelchairs and other disabilities.

Special bicycle hooks were also installed on the cable cars.

The new cable cars will serve people from 08.00 am to 10.00 pm in winter and from 08.00am to midnight during summer.

Turtle Lake, known as Kus Tba in Georgian, is a small lake on the outskirts of Tbilisi popular with the city’s residents as a recreational zone and venue for concerts and festivals.

Photo: Renovated Turtle Lake (KusTba) cable car. Source: on.ge

By Thea Morrison