Centre approves ₹25,446-crore twin elevated corridor projects to decongest Varanasi

Union Railways, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at a cabinet briefing in New Delhi, Wednesday | Photo Credit: Salman Ali

New Delhi, July 15

The Centre has approved two major elevated corridor projects worth a combined total of ₹25,445.96 crore to decongest Varanasi by providing high-speed connectivity along the Ganga and Varuna riverbanks.

Accordingly, the move is expected to significantly improve access to major transport hubs, religious destinations and logistics infrastructure.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the development of a 46.039-km elevated corridor linking National Highway-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the River Ganga at a total capital cost of ₹14,447.64 crore. 

Simultaneously, it approved a 43.218-km elevated corridor connecting National Highway-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the River Varuna at a cost of ₹10,998.32 crore.

Highway projects

Both projects will be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) as part of the Centre’s broader strategy to decongest Varanasi and strengthen multimodal connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Together spanning nearly 89.3 km, the two access-controlled corridors will comprise elevated carriageways, flyovers, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads designed for operating speeds of 80-100 kmph.

According to the CCEA, the projects will substantially reduce travel time across Varanasi while improving connectivity between the city’s road network, railway stations, airport and inland waterways infrastructure.

The Ganga corridor is expected to reduce average travel time across its influence area from around 60 minutes to 20 minutes. 

Consequently, the travel time between National Highway-19 and Kashi Railway Station will decline from around 50 minutes to 25 minutes.

Besides, the Varuna corridor will reduce travel time between National Highway-31 and Kashi Railway Station from around 40 minutes to 20 minutes.

Furthermore, the projects are expected to significantly ease congestion across National Highway-19, National Highway-31, National Highway-35, the Banaras Hindu University-Ramnagar corridor and several heavily trafficked urban stretches by diverting through traffic away from the city centre.

Twin corridors

As per the CCEA, the twin corridors will strengthen connectivity to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City Railway Station, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction and Ramnagar Inland Waterways Authority of India Port, while improving access to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University, Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and the ghats of Varanasi.

Additionally, the projects are expected to improve logistics efficiency by connecting one economic node, one social node and six major logistics hubs while facilitating movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods, construction material and minerals across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

In addition, the Ganga Elevated Corridor will also incorporate several engineering features, including a 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the River Ganga, a 1.32-km extradosed foot over bridge-cum-major bridge equipped with travelators providing pedestrian connectivity to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a rail over bridge over the existing and proposed Malviya Bridge, emergency parking bays, noise barriers and façade lighting inspired by Varanasi’s cultural heritage.

Published on July 15, 2026