Cabinet Approves ₹25,445-Crore Ganga and Varuna Elevated Corridors for Varanasi

Varanasi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two predominantly elevated road corridors along the Ganga and Varuna at a combined investment of ₹25,445.96 crore, clearing one of the largest transport-infrastructure packages planned for Varanasi.

The approvals, granted on 15 July 2026 at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cover a 46.039-km Ganga corridor and a 43.218-km Varuna corridor. Both projects are to be developed by the National Highways Authority of India under the hybrid annuity model.

The six-lane Ganga River Elevated Corridor will connect NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road and has an approved cost of ₹14,447.64 crore. The government estimates that the journey between NH-19 and Kashi railway station could fall from about 50 minutes to 25 minutes after the corridor becomes operational.

The plan includes a 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga, a rail overbridge near the existing and proposed Malviya Bridge, and an elevated spur connecting the BHU-Lanka area with Samne Ghat. A 1.32-km pedestrian bridge with travelators is also proposed to improve access towards the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple area.

The Varuna River Elevated Corridor will run for 43.218 km between NH-31 and the Ring Road. The six- and four-lane project has been approved at ₹10,998.32 crore. It is expected to reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi railway station from roughly 40 minutes to 20 minutes.

Together, the corridors are intended to provide faster access to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi Junction, Varanasi City and Kashi railway stations, the Ramnagar multimodal terminal, BHU, Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort, the ghats and Chandauli. They are also expected to divert through-traffic away from congested city roads and improve links with the Ring Road.

The approved cost includes civil construction and land acquisition. The Ganga corridor’s civil component is estimated at ₹6,037.85 crore, with ₹541.11 crore for land, while the Varuna corridor includes civil works worth ₹4,565.33 crore and land acquisition estimated at ₹934.91 crore.

The Cabinet approval moves the projects beyond the proposal stage, but construction schedules, traffic-management arrangements and local land-acquisition notices will still be important for residents and businesses along the alignments. Detailed implementation timelines are expected as the highway authority advances tendering and pre-construction work.