Cabinet clears ₹25,400-crore highway projects to decongest Varanasi
The Indian Cabinet has approved two major highway projects in Varanasi worth ₹25,400 crore to reduce traffic congestion. These projects, part of the PM Gati Shakti plan, aim to improve connectivity to key landmarks and boost logistics efficiency in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Why it matters
These infrastructure developments are expected to significantly reduce travel times and stimulate economic growth in a major pilgrimage and tourism hub.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two major highway connector projects worth over ₹25,400 crore to ease traffic congestion in Varanasi and improve connectivity to the city’s ring road.
The projects, to be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), include a 43.218-km corridor linking NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the Varuna River at a total capital cost of ₹10,998.32 crore and a 46.039-km corridor connecting NH-19 with the ring road along the Ganga River at a cost of ₹14,447.64 crore.
The NH-19 project will feature a six-lane elevated carriageway, a cable-stayed bridge, an extradosed foot over bridge-cum-major bridge, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads. The NH-31 corridor will comprise a predominantly elevated four- and six-lane carriageway with flyovers, loops, ramps and service roads.
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