New Delhi, 15 July (H.S.):

The Central Government on Wednesday approved the Rs 10,998.32 crore Varuna Elevated Corridor project, a 43.218-kilometre urban transport corridor aimed at easing traffic congestion in Varanasi and transforming the city's transport infrastructure.

The project was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).

Announcing the Cabinet decisions, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that nearly 150 million pilgrims and tourists visit Varanasi every year. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts have instilled a renewed sense of pride in India's cultural heritage, resulting in a steady increase in both domestic and international visitors to Kashi. Keeping pace with this growing demand, the government has approved two major infrastructure projects to elevate the city's transport network, with the Varuna Elevated Corridor being a key component.

Vaishnaw began the media briefing by referring to the iconic Bollywood song Khaike Paan Banaras Wala and said the project would bring about a transformative change in Varanasi's transport infrastructure. He described it as a significant part of the proposed Varuna Expressway concept.

According to the government, the corridor will serve as a major component of the Varanasi Decongestion Plan. In addition to the main elevated carriageway, the project includes the construction of flyovers, ramps, loops and service roads. Of the total project cost, Rs 4,565.33 crore has been allocated for construction works, while Rs 934.91 crore will be spent on land acquisition.

The project will provide seamless connectivity between National Highway-31 (NH-31) and Kashi Railway Station. It will also significantly improve access to the Varanasi Ring Road, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi City Railway Station, Varanasi Junction, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Ramnagar Port, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, the ghats of Varanasi and the Chandauli region.

Designed for speeds ranging from 80 to 100 kilometres per hour, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station from approximately 40 minutes to just 20 minutes. It will also ease traffic congestion across the city, improve road safety, lower vehicle operating costs, and enable faster and more efficient movement of passengers and freight.

The government said the project is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will strengthen the region's multimodal transport network. It will enhance connectivity to the Chandauli socio-economic region, one economic centre, one social centre and six major logistics hubs. The corridor will also facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce, industrial goods, construction materials and minerals, thereby improving logistics efficiency and accelerating regional economic development across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

According to the government, the project will create a modern, access-controlled urban transport corridor in Varanasi, promoting tourism, trade, investment and regional economic activity. It is also expected to provide safer, faster and more convenient travel for local residents as well as pilgrims and tourists visiting the city from across India and abroad.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar