15 July,2026 03:24 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
PM Narendra Modi-led Cabinet approves six-lane elevated Ganga corridor in Varanasi. File pic
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 46.039-km six-lane elevated corridor along the Ganga in Varanasi at a total cost of Rs 14,447.64 crore.
The project will connect National Highway-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road and is aimed at reducing traffic congestion while improving connectivity across the city.
The project includes a six-lane elevated carriageway, an iconic cable-stayed bridge, an extradosed foot-over-bridge-and-major bridge, loops, ramps, link roads, and service roads. It will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Of the total project cost, Rs 6,037.85 crore has been earmarked for civil construction and Rs 541.11 crore for land acquisition under NH(O).
Once completed, the corridor will provide seamless connectivity between NH-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road, helping decongest the city's roads and improve urban mobility. Designed for speeds of 80-100 kmph, it is expected to reduce average travel time across the project area from around 60 minutes to 20 minutes. Travel between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station is also expected to come down from nearly 50 minutes to 25 minutes.
The corridor has been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will improve multimodal connectivity by linking major highways, railway stations, Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport and Ramnagar IWAI Port. It will also enhance access to important landmarks, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and the ghats of Varanasi.
According to the government, the project will strengthen logistics, improve road safety, boost tourism and pilgrimage, and contribute to economic growth in eastern Uttar Pradesh by connecting key transport, social and economic hubs.
The elevated corridor is intended to ease congestion in Varanasi and neighbouring Chandauli by providing a high-speed, access-controlled route linking NH-19, the Varanasi Ring Road, Ramnagar, BHU and other major destinations. With over 15 crore tourists and pilgrims visiting Varanasi every year, the project is expected to significantly improve traffic flow. An elevated spur connecting BHU/Lanka with Samne Ghat will also help reduce congestion at the busy Lanka Junction.
The project also includes several engineering landmarks such as a 910-metre cable-stayed bridge over the Ganga, a 1.32-km extradosed foot-over-bridge-cum-major bridge equipped with travelators to improve pedestrian access to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and a rail overbridge over the existing and proposed Malviya Bridge. Additional features include emergency parking bays, noise barriers, façade lighting and architectural elements reflecting Varanasi's cultural heritage.
According to officials, the project is expected to create a high-capacity urban transport corridor offering faster, safer and more reliable travel while boosting multimodal connectivity, tourism, pilgrimage, and regional development in line with the PM Gati Shakti and Viksit Bharat vision.
(With ANI inputs)
