PM Modi's Big Gift For Varanasi: Cabinet Approves Two Mega Road Projects To Ease Congestion

Published 15 July 2026 · local

PM Modi's Big Gift For Varanasi: Cabinet Approves Two Mega Road Projects To Ease Congestion Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 17:03 IST The

PM Modi's Big Gift For Varanasi: Cabinet Approves Two Mega Road Projects To Ease Congestion Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 17:03 IST The Centre has approved two mega elevated corridors worth over ₹25,000 crore in Varanasi, aiming to cut travel time, ease congestion and boost connectivity. The new corridors will also feature an iconic cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga and help manage the city's growing tourist and pilgrim traffic. In a major infrastructure boost for Varanasi, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two large-scale road projects worth more than ₹25,000 crore aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving connectivity across the temple city. The two elevated corridors in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency—one along the River Varuna and the other along the River Ganga—are expected to transform urban mobility in Varanasi, which attracts more than 15 crore tourists and pilgrims every year. Together, the projects will improve access to major landmarks such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort, the Ghats of Varanasi, Kashi Railway Station, and Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. Varuna Corridor: Faster Access To Railways, Airport And Ring Road The Cabinet approved a 43.2-km elevated corridor connecting NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the River Varuna. The project will be built by the Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at an estimated cost of ₹10,998 crore.

Designed as a predominantly si lane and four-lane elevated corridor, the project will include flyovers, ramps, loops and service roads. Once completed, travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station is expected to come down from around 40 minutes to just 20 minutes. The corridor will also improve connectivity to Varanasi Ring Road Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport Kashi Railway Station Varanasi City Railway Station Varanasi Junction Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Ramnagar Port Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Chandauli district and surrounding regions Officials say the project will help divert through traffic away from the city’s crowded roads, making travel safer and more efficient for both residents and visitors. Ganga Corridor: Iconic Bridge And Direct Access To Key Landmarks The second project is an ambitious 46-km elevated corridor connecting NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the banks of the River Ganga. Approved at a cost of ₹14,447 crore, the corridor will feature a si lane elevated highway along with several landmark structures, including A 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga A 1.32-km foot-over-bridge-cum-major bridge with travelators Rail-over-bridge infrastructure Emergency parking bays Noise barriers and architectural lighting One of the project’s biggest highlights is the pedestrian bridge that will provide seamless connectivity to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple area. The project is expected to reduce average travel time across its influence zone from around 60 minutes to just 20 minutes. Travel time between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station is also expected to fall by nearly 50 per cent, from 50 minutes to about 25 minutes.