VARANASI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected Kashi railway station and the Ganga bridge construction site near Namo Ghat on Saturday, October 31, 2026, outlining a six-platform station and announcing that the new crossing would be called Namo Bridge. The developments concern passengers using the Kashi station area and future road and rail movement across the river.

Vaishnaw described the station's northern and southern sides as parts of a connected passenger hub, with a large concourse over the railway lines and platforms. For residents and visitors travelling now, these are construction plans. Passengers should continue to use the station and boarding instructions printed on their tickets, rather than treat the planned hub as an operational interchange.

The bridge is planned with six highway lanes above four railway tracks. Its link with Kashi station is intended to increase railway capacity and make movement easier for pilgrims, tourists and local travellers. Neither the inspection accounts nor the naming announcement provide a date when residents can begin using the crossing.

What the station inspection covered

The minister said development was taking place on both sides of Kashi station. The concourse would connect those sides above the tracks, bringing the waiting area and platforms into a single passenger arrangement. He compared the proposed waiting area's size to a football field and said it was designed to accommodate about 50,000 passengers simultaneously.

That capacity is the minister's description of the planned facility. It should not be read as a count of passengers currently using a completed concourse. Six platforms were also described as part of the station redevelopment. Together, the platforms, waiting space and access from both sides form the main passenger facilities outlined during the visit.

Temple access was another reason the minister gave for the station's importance. He placed the southern side about two kilometres from Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The connection is relevant to visitors choosing a railway arrival point for the old city and ghats, although the inspection did not announce a new shuttle, pedestrian route or changed train stopping pattern.

How Namo Bridge fits the railway project

The bridge naming was announced after the minister reviewed the work near Namo Ghat. He described a combined road and railway crossing designed with the next 100 years of transport needs in mind. That statement sets out the planning horizon; it is not a promised construction period or a guarantee about future traffic volumes.

The official cabinet approval of October 16, 2024 provides the project background. It covers multitracking between Varanasi and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, including a new rail and road bridge over the Ganga. The approved works traverse Varanasi and Chandauli districts and include third and fourth railway lines.

The approval explains that the existing corridor carries both passenger traffic and freight, including coal, cement and foodgrains. The additional tracks and crossing are intended to relieve congestion on that route. It describes an increase of about 30 kilometres in the railway network through the project. These are details of the approved scheme, rather than new quantities announced during Saturday's inspection.

The cabinet approval put the overall multitracking scheme at approximately Rs 2,642 crore and described a four-year completion period. That estimate covers the approved railway project, including the bridge. It supplies the financial background to the works inspected on Saturday, rather than a fresh bridge budget announced at the site.

What residents should do

  • Check the station named on the ticket before arranging a drop or pickup.
  • Use current railway enquiries for a train's stopping station and platform.
  • Wait for an operating notice before planning a journey across the new bridge.

Current passenger information is available through Northern Railway and the official train enquiry service. Saturday's project inspection should be kept separate from service notices. Earlier local reporting covers the Cantt to Lohta train maintenance proposal, the dated Banaras platform changes, and the November 2 Saharanpur special. Those reports concern different railway arrangements.