New Delhi/Varanasi: In a major infrastructure push for Uttar Pradesh, the Union Cabinet has approved two ambitious elevated highway corridor projects worth nearly ₹25,500 crore to ease congestion and improve connectivity in Varanasi. The projects, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to significantly transform urban mobility in the temple city.
The first project involves the development of a 43.22-km elevated link road connecting National Highway-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the Varuna River. Estimated at ₹10,998.32 crore, the project will be executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), a public-private partnership framework. The corridor will comprise four/six-lane elevated carriageways, flyovers, loops, ramps and service roads.
The Cabinet also approved a 46.04-km six-lane elevated corridor along the Ganga River, linking National Highway-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road. The project, estimated at ₹14,447.64 crore, will also be developed under the HAM model. It will feature a cable-stayed bridge, a major bridge with foot-over bridges, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads.
According to the government, the projects will provide seamless connectivity to Varanasi Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi Junction, Varanasi City Railway Station, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Ramnagar Port, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, the city’s iconic ghats and neighbouring Chandauli district.
Designed for operating speeds of 80–100 kmph, the corridors are expected to reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station from around 40 minutes to 20 minutes, cutting journey time by nearly 50 percent while easing traffic congestion across Varanasi.
