Cabinet Approves Rs 25,446 Crore Elevated Corridors to Decongest Varanasi

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two major elevated road projects in Varanasi — the Ganga Corridor and the Varuna Corridor — at a combined cost of Rs 25,446 crore. The projects aim to ease traffic congestion in the holy city and provide high-speed connectivity from two national highways and the Ring Road.

The 46-km Ganga Corridor will be a six-lane elevated main carriageway with an iconic cable-stayed bridge, extra-dosed footover bridge, loops, ramps, link roads, and service roads. It is expected to decongest National Highway 19 (Prayagraj–Varanasi) and traffic from BHU-Ramnagar and National Highway 35 (Varanasi–Mirzapur). Average travel time across the area is projected to reduce from 60 minutes to about 20 minutes.

The 43-km Varuna Corridor will significantly decongest the city core and address chronic traffic congestion. Officials said travel time between National Highway 31 and Kashi railway station will reduce from 40 minutes to 20 minutes.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the projects are critical given that Varanasi receives more than 15 crore tourists and pilgrims annually. He added that the roads will improve connectivity to major religious, educational, and cultural landmarks, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort, the Ghats of Varanasi, and Kashi railway station.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in posts on social media platform X, stated that the government is committed to making access to Baba Vishwanath in Varanasi more convenient and that the Varuna Corridor will serve as a model for other culturally important cities. He also said the Ganga Corridor will improve access to major sites and reduce pressure on the road network, accelerating economic development in the Purvanchal region.