Modi Approves Rs 25,446 Crore Elevated Corridors in Varanasi

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two elevated corridor projects in Varanasi totaling approximately Rs 25,445.96 crore. The projects are designed to reduce urban congestion and improve multimodal connectivity as part of the Varanasi Decongestion Plan and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

The first project, costing Rs 14,447.64 crore, is a 46.039-km six-lane Greenfield Elevated Corridor along the banks of the River Ganga connecting National Highway-19 to the Varanasi Ring Road. This corridor includes a cable-stayed bridge and an extradosed foot-over-bridge, aiming to reduce travel time between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station from 50 to 25 minutes. The second project is a 43.218-km corridor along the River Varuna connecting NH-31 to the Varanasi Ring Road at a cost of Rs 10,998.32 crore, which is expected to halve travel time to the railway station.

Both projects will be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Local leaders, including BJP MLA Saurabh Srivastava and Mayor Shweta Tiwari, praised the development as a historic achievement. Supporters claim the corridors will accommodate the 15 crore annual visitors to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, boost per capita income, and expand employment opportunities through the growth of local businesses and guest houses in eastern Uttar Pradesh.