Varuna Corridor: How Govt Plans To Ease Traffic And Cut Airport Travel Time In Varanasi
Varuna Corridor: How Govt Plans To Ease Traffic And Cut Airport Travel Time In Varanasi Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 22:58 IST A
Varuna Corridor: How Govt Plans To Ease Traffic And Cut Airport Travel Time In Varanasi Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 22:58 IST A 43-km elevated corridor along the Varuna River gets approval in Varanasi, aiming to ease congestion and cut airport travel time from 60 to 20 minutes. Rapid Read The Varuna Corridor in Varanasi is set to cut the travel time to airport significantly. (Representational image generated by AI) The Centre has approved the construction of the Varuna Elevated Corridor in Varanasi, a 43.218-km urban transport project aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity across key parts of the city. The project, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), is estimated to cost Rs 10,998.32 crore. It is expected to address traffic bottlenecks in busy areas such as Chhawani, Varanasi Junction, Phulwaria and Chaukaghat, where road capacity and mixed traffic have led to frequent congestion. Officials said the corridor will run along the Varuna River, a stretch that sees heavy daily movement but is constrained by narrow roads and limited bridge capacity.
The elevated design is intended to allow through traffic to bypass congested surface routes. Project Design And Structure The corridor has been divided into two sections. Package I covers a 28.498-km stretch from NH-31 to Phulwaria Junction, including an 11.744-km si lane main carriageway along with flyovers, ramps and service roads. Package II spans 14.720 km from Phulwaria Junction to Kashi Railway Station. This section will include a four- to si lane carriageway and additional ramp infrastructure to manage entry and exit points. The project includes a mix of greenfield and brownfield alignments. A significant portion will run as an elevated viaduct, allowing vehicles to move above existing roads and avoid ground-level congestion. Impact On Travel And Connectivity One of the key expected outcomes is a reduction in travel time between major transit points. The journey from Varanasi railway station to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is projected to come down from around 60 minutes to about 20 minutes once the corridor is operational. Officials said this is likely to benefit daily commuters as well as passengers travelling to and from the airport, including business travellers and tourists.
Access And Urban Planning The design includes multiple loops and ramps to improve access to densely populated and high-traffic areas such as Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Chaukaghat, Phulwaria and the cantonment zone. Authorities said the project has been planned keeping both current congestion levels and future traffic growth in mind. Traffic projections indicate that volume on this corridor could exceed 59,000 passenger car units per day by 2044. The elevated corridor is being developed as part of a broader effort to upgrade urban infrastructure in Varanasi and improve mobility across the city. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered How will the Varuna Corridor change daily commutes? The Varuna Corridor project in Varanasi is expected to significantly reduce travel time, cutting the journey from the railway station to the airport from approximately 60 minutes to about 20 minutes. What other infrastructure projects are planned for Varanasi? Varanasi is planned to have two major elevated corridor projects: the Varuna Corridor and the Ganga Elevated Corridor.
The BriefWire