Union Cabinet Clears ₹25,445.96 Crore Ganga and Varuna Elevated Corridors for Varanasi

Varanasi, July 19, 2026: The Union Cabinet has approved two elevated road corridors worth a combined ₹25,445.96 crore along the Ganga and Varuna, moving the projects from proposal stage to formal approval under the Varanasi Decongestion Plan.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared both projects on July 15. The National Highways Authority of India will implement them under the hybrid annuity model. The approvals do not, by themselves, mark the start of construction, and the official announcements did not state a completion date.

The Ganga corridor is a 46.039-kilometre, six-lane elevated link between National Highway 19 and the Varanasi Ring Road. Approved at ₹14,447.64 crore, it includes loops, ramps and service roads, a 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga, a 1.32-kilometre pedestrian-cum-major bridge with travelators towards Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and a spur linking the BHU-Lanka area with Samne Ghat.

Government estimates say the Ganga project could reduce travel time across its influence area from about 60 minutes to 20 minutes, while the NH-19 to Kashi railway station journey could fall from 50 minutes to 25 minutes.

The Varuna corridor is a 43.218-kilometre, six- and four-lane predominantly elevated road between National Highway 31 and the Ring Road. Its approved cost is ₹10,998.32 crore. The project includes flyovers, loops, ramps and service roads intended to improve access to the airport, railway stations, Ramnagar port, the ghats and neighbouring Chandauli district.

For the Varuna corridor, the government estimates that the NH-31 to Kashi railway station journey could be cut from about 40 minutes to 20 minutes. Both corridors are designed for operating speeds of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour. Further tendering and construction schedules will determine when work begins.