The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of a 46.039 km Link/Connector Corridor between National Highway-19 (NH-19) and the Varanasi Ring Road with riverbank connectivity along the River Ganga for decongestion of Varanasi City in Uttar Pradesh. The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at a total capital cost of ₹14,447.64 crore, including civil construction cost of ₹6,037.85 crore (excluding GST) and land acquisition cost of ₹541.11 crore under NH(O).
The infrastructure project comprises a six-lane elevated main carriageway, an iconic cable-stayed bridge, an extradosed Foot Over Bridge-cum-Major Bridge, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads. Designed for an operating speed of 80–100 km/h, the corridor is expected to reduce average travel time across the project influence area from approximately 60 minutes to 20 minutes, representing a 67% reduction. Specifically, travel time between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station will be reduced from approximately 50 minutes to about 25 minutes, saving about 25 minutes (50% reduction).
The project will provide seamless connectivity between NH-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road, significantly decongesting the city's road network and improving urban mobility. It will strengthen multimodal connectivity by providing access to major highways, railway stations, Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport and Ramnagar IWAI Port, while improving connectivity to key religious, educational and cultural landmarks including Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and the Ghats of Varanasi.
Engineering features include an iconic 910 m cable-stayed bridge across the River Ganga, a 1.32 km extradosed Foot Over Bridge-cum-Major Bridge with travelators providing pedestrian connectivity to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a Rail Over Bridge over the existing/proposed Malviya Bridge, dedicated emergency parking bays, noise barriers, façade lighting and architectural elements inspired by Varanasi's cultural heritage.
Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the corridor will link one Economic Node (Chandauli SEZ), one Social Node (Chandauli Aspirational District) and six major Logistics Nodes: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Kashi Railway Station, Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City Railway Station, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction and Ramnagar IWAI Port. The project aims to improve logistics efficiency, enhance road safety, facilitate tourism and pilgrimage for the over 15 crore annual visitors to Varanasi, and support sustainable regional economic development across eastern Uttar Pradesh.