The Centre has approved the construction of the Varuna Elevated Corridor in Varanasi, a 43.218-km urban transport project aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity across key parts of the city.
The project, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), is estimated to cost Rs 10,998.32 crore. It is expected to address traffic bottlenecks in busy areas such as Chhawani, Varanasi Junction, Phulwaria and Chaukaghat, where road capacity and mixed traffic have led to frequent congestion.
Officials said the corridor will run along the Varuna River, a stretch that sees heavy daily movement but is constrained by narrow roads and limited bridge capacity. The elevated design is intended to allow through traffic to bypass congested surface routes.
Project Design And Structure
The corridor has been divided into two sections. Package I covers a 28.498-km stretch from NH-31 to Phulwaria Junction, including an 11.744-km six-lane main carriageway along with flyovers, ramps and service roads.
Package II spans 14.720 km from Phulwaria Junction to Kashi Railway Station. This section will include a four- to six-lane carriageway and additional ramp infrastructure to manage entry and exit points.
The project includes a mix of greenfield and brownfield alignments. A significant portion will run as an elevated viaduct, allowing vehicles to move above existing roads and avoid ground-level congestion.
Impact On Travel And Connectivity
One of the key expected outcomes is a reduction in travel time between major transit points. The journey from Varanasi railway station to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is projected to come down from around 60 minutes to about 20 minutes once the corridor is operational.
Officials said this is likely to benefit daily commuters as well as passengers travelling to and from the airport, including business travellers and tourists.
Access And Urban Planning
The design includes multiple loops and ramps to improve access to densely populated and high-traffic areas such as Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Chaukaghat, Phulwaria and the cantonment zone.
Authorities said the project has been planned keeping both current congestion levels and future traffic growth in mind. Traffic projections indicate that volume on this corridor could exceed 59,000 passenger car units per day by 2044.
The elevated corridor is being developed as part of a broader effort to upgrade urban infrastructure in Varanasi and improve mobility across the city.
