Varanasi : ₹97 Crore Ring Road Service Lane Project

A major infrastructure project aimed at improving traffic movement and road safety is set to begin on the Varanasi Ring Road, as construction of a 15-kilometre-long service lane between Harahua and Sandaha is expected to commence this week.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved an estimated budget of ₹97 crore for the project. Under the plan, seven-metre-wide service lanes will be constructed on both sides of the Ring Road to separate local traffic from fast-moving highway vehicles.

Officials associated with the project believe the development will help reduce road accidents caused by vehicles entering the highway directly from village roads and local connecting routes. The new service lanes are expected to streamline traffic flow and improve safety for commuters travelling through the outer regions of Varanasi.

The project is also likely to improve connectivity on important regional routes linked to Lucknow, Prayagraj, Jaunpur, and Azamgarh, where traffic congestion has become a regular issue due to increasing vehicular movement.

According to officials, nearly 50 villages located near the Ring Road corridor are expected to benefit from the project through safer access roads and improved transportation facilities.

The tender process for the project has already been completed, and a construction agency based in Lucknow has been assigned the responsibility of carrying out the work. Authorities stated that the project has been given a timeline of approximately 18 months for completion.

Officials further noted that no major land acquisition obstacles are expected, as the land required for the service lanes is already available with the authorities.

The Ring Road service lane project is also being viewed as an important infrastructure step for the future expansion of the proposed “Greater Banaras” township, which is expected to depend heavily on improved regional road connectivity and smoother transport infrastructure.