Varanasi to Get ₹10,998 Crore Elevated River Corridor
43-km elevated highway project to halve travel time and ease traffic congestion in the temple city
- Cabinet approves ₹10,998.32 crore Varuna River Corridor project in Varanasi.
- 43.2-km elevated corridor to connect NH-31 with Varanasi Ring Road.
- Travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station to be cut by 50%.
- Project to improve connectivity, logistics and tourism in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th July: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the construction of a 43.218-km elevated Varuna River Corridor in Varanasi at a total capital cost of ₹10,998.32 crore to decongest the city and strengthen regional connectivity.
The project, to be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), will comprise a predominantly 6/4-lane elevated corridor with flyovers, ramps, loops, service roads and the main carriageway connecting NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road.
According to the government, the corridor is a key component of the Varanasi Decongestion Plan and will provide seamless connectivity to Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi Airport, Varanasi Junction, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Ramnagar Port, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, the city’s famous ghats and the adjoining Chandauli region.
Designed for speeds of 80-100 kmph, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station from about 40 minutes to 20 minutes, significantly easing congestion, improving road safety and reducing vehicle operating costs.
The project will also enhance connectivity to the Chandauli Social Economic Zone, a key social node and six major logistics hubs, supporting multimodal transport integration under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The government said the corridor will facilitate faster movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods, construction materials and minerals, strengthen logistics efficiency, boost tourism and promote sustainable economic development across eastern Uttar Pradesh while improving the quality of life for residents and visitors to Varanasi.
