Gellért Hill Funicular was granted the last permit, here are the visual designs

The investment was finally granted the environmental permit, so the construction of the Gellért Hill funicular can start soon.

According to Népszava, neither the capital nor District I has raised any objections. The disaster management and the heritage protection authority, the Hungarian National Authority for Nature Conservation, and the Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate responsible for the area all agreed to the construction of the cable car. The preliminary archaeological documentation was prepared by Várkapitányság Zrt., which organises the reconstruction of Buda Castle, and the heritage protection permit was issued by the Budapest Metropolitan Government Office.

The only condition imposed on Rác Sikló Kft. is that the building of the upper station should

fit perfectly into its surroundings in terms of the colours and materials of the landscape.

Pursuant to the environmental impact assessment, the funicular “will be visible from several viewpoints from the capital, such as the historic old town, the Danube as well as the Pest quay,” and it will “significantly change the landscape of Gellért Hill”. The investment also involves the cutting down of 94 trees, but these trees will be replaced by 900 semi-mature trees.

The construction permit issued in mid-November is valid until 2031.

According to the current plans, the project will cost HUF 18−20 billion (~EUR 48,821,436−54,246,040) and will have a repayment period of approximately 17−18 years, adds Index. The investment could start in the first quarter of 2022, and it will be completed by the spring of 2023.