Cabinet clears ₹10,998 crore corridor project to transform connectivity in Varanasi
New Delhi, July 15: The Central Government has approved the 43.218 km long Varuna Elevated Corridor (VEC) project at a cost of Rs 10,998.32 crore to provide relief to Varanasi from traffic jams and revamp the transport network of Kashi.
The project was approved in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project will be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
Giving information about the Cabinet decisions, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that about 15 crore devotees and tourists visit Varanasi every year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts have instilled a renewed pride in India’s cultural heritage, leading to a steadily increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting Kashi. In response to this growing need, two important projects were approved today to elevate Kashi’s infrastructure to the next level, including this elevated corridor along the Varuna River.
Vaishnav began the media briefing by quoting the famous film song “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala” and stated that this project will significantly transform Varanasi’s transportation infrastructure. He described it as an important part of the Varuna Expressway concept.
According to the government, this corridor will be a key component of the Varanasi decongestion plan. In addition to the main elevated route, the project will also include the construction of flyovers, ramps, loops, and service roads. Of the total cost, ₹4,565.33 crore will be spent on construction work and ₹934.91 crore on land acquisition.
This project will provide easy access to 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 Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, Ramnagar Port, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, the ghats of Varanasi, and the Chandauli area.
With a design speed of 80 to 100 kilometers per hour, the corridor will reduce travel time between NH-31 and Kashi Railway Station from approximately 40 minutes to 20 minutes. This will reduce traffic congestion in the city, improve road safety, reduce operating costs, and ensure faster and smoother movement of passengers and cargo.
The government stated that this project will strengthen the multi-modal transportation system in line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. This will improve connectivity to the Chandauli socio-economic zone, including an economic hub, a social hub, and six major logistics hubs. Transportation of agricultural products, industrial goods, construction materials and minerals will also be facilitated, thereby boosting logistics efficiency and regional economic development in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
According to the government, the project will create a modern, access-controlled urban transport corridor in Varanasi, boosting tourism, trade, investment and regional economic activity, and making travel safer, faster and more convenient for local residents and pilgrims and tourists from India and abroad.
