Varanasi, September 15 (APAC Media): The Rs 10,998-crore Varuna Elevated Corridor is set to add a major new transport link to Varanasi, providing a high-capacity alternative route between NH-31 and the Varanasi Ring Road along the Varuna River.
Approved by the Union Cabinet in July, the 43.218-km predominantly elevated corridor will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
What Does the Project Include?
The 6/4-lane corridor will feature flyovers, loops, ramps, service roads, an iconic cable-stayed bridge and an extradosed foot over bridge-cum-major bridge.
The project is a key component of the Varanasi Decongestion Plan, aimed at improving movement between major highways, railway stations, the airport, and important destinations across the city.
Faster Connectivity Across Varanasi
The corridor will improve access to Varanasi Airport, Varanasi Cantonment, Varanasi City Railway Station, Kashi Railway Station and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, besides strengthening connectivity to Ramnagar Port and areas along the Varuna corridor.
Designed for speeds of 80–100 kmph, the project is expected to reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station from around 40 minutes to nearly 20 minutes.
The journey between Varanasi Junction and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is also projected to fall from nearly an hour to about 20 minutes.
Boost for Tourism, Education, Logistics
The additional road capacity is expected to ease traffic pressure around key urban corridors and improve access to major religious and tourism destinations, including the ghats, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
It will also strengthen connectivity to educational institutions such as Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
From an economic perspective, the corridor will improve links to the Chandauli Socio-Economic Zone, Chandauli Social Node and six major logistics nodes, supporting the movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods and other freight.
With its elevated alignment reducing the need for extensive road widening, the Varuna Elevated Corridor is expected to become a modern mobility spine for Varanasi, helping separate through traffic from local movement while supporting the city’s growing tourism, education and economic activity.
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