Shillong: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs greenlit a 43.218 km link corridor for Varanasi on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting. The project carries a total price tag of Rs 10,998.32 crore. It aims to unclog the city streets.
The National Highways Authority of India will build the route using the Hybrid Annuity Model. Construction costs hit Rs 4,565.33 crore while land acquisition adds another Rs 934.91 crore. The design features a 6/4-lane elevated track with flyovers, ramps, and service roads along the River Varuna. It connects NH-31 to the Varanasi Ring Road.
Speed limits are set for 80 to 100 km/h. Commuters will see travel times between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station drop from 40 minutes to 20 minutes. This cuts transit time by half. The corridor targets better access to the airport, Kashi, Varanasi City, and Varanasi Junction railway stations. It also links to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Ramnagar Port, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, local ghats, and the Chandauli region.
According to a Cabinet communique, the corridor is a major component of the Varanasi Decongestion Plan and will provide "seamless connectivity" between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station. The project integrates with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan by linking one economic zone, one social node, and six major logistics hubs. It intends to speed up the movement of agricultural goods, industrial materials, and minerals to boost the economy of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
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