Varanasi | The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a 6-lane Ganga Elevated Corridor in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, at an estimated capital cost of ₹14,447 crore. The ambitious infrastructure project aims to significantly improve urban mobility, ease traffic congestion, enhance connectivity to major religious and cultural destinations, and strengthen multimodal transport integration in one of India’s busiest pilgrimage cities.
The corridor will be developed under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and aligns with the Government of India’s vision of creating integrated, efficient, and sustainable urban transport infrastructure. The project is expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety, and support economic growth while preserving the city’s cultural significance.
According to the Cabinet note, the elevated corridor will provide seamless connectivity between key transport hubs, including Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City Railway Station, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, and the Ramnagar IWAI Port. It will also improve access to important destinations such as Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort, and the historic ghats along the Ganga.
The project incorporates several landmark engineering features. These include an iconic 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the River Ganga, a 1.32-km extradosed Foot Over Bridge-cum-Major Bridge equipped with travelators for pedestrians travelling to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a Rail Over Bridge over the existing and proposed Malviya Bridge, emergency parking bays, noise barriers, façade lighting, and architectural elements inspired by the cultural heritage of Varanasi. These features are intended to improve transport efficiency while enhancing the city’s skyline and urban identity.
The government stated that the corridor will strengthen multimodal connectivity by linking the Economic Node (Chandauli SEZ), the Social Node (Chandauli Aspirational District), and six major logistics nodes across the region. The improved transport network is expected to facilitate tourism, pilgrimage, logistics operations, and regional economic development across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The project also addresses one of Varanasi’s major urban challenges—traffic congestion caused by the dense road network and growing visitor numbers. By providing controlled-access movement, the elevated corridor is expected to reduce delays, improve travel reliability, lower vehicle operating costs, and enhance passenger and freight movement throughout the city.
The Cabinet noted that the Ganga Elevated Corridor represents a major step towards creating a modern, high-capacity transport corridor that supports sustainable urban development while improving accessibility to one of India’s most important cultural and spiritual destinations. A corridor map included in the Cabinet document illustrates the proposed alignment connecting the city’s major transport corridors and key urban nodes.
Also Read: Cabinet Approves ₹10,998.32 Crore Elevated Corridor Along Varuna River to Ease Varanasi Traffic
Join our WhatsApp Channel for fastest updates: Join now