The Centre is set to transform urban mobility in Varanasi with the development of a 46-km six-lane Greenfield Ganga Elevated Corridor, a project aimed at easing traffic congestion, improving connectivity and strengthening the city’s tourism-driven economy.
Approved by the Union Cabinet at an estimated cost of ₹14,447.64 crore, the corridor will connect NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road (NH-135B) while providing faster access to key religious, educational and commercial destinations across the city.
Designed as a high-speed, access-controlled corridor, the project will improve connectivity to landmarks such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Namo Ghat, Ramnagar Fort and Kashi Railway Station. Officials expect the project to significantly reduce congestion in Varanasi and neighbouring Chandauli district.
Once operational, the corridor is expected to cut average travel time across the city from nearly 60 minutes to around 20 minutes, while travel between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station will be reduced to approximately 25 minutes, improving convenience for residents, pilgrims and tourists.
The project will feature a 910-metre cable-stayed bridge across the Ganga, a 1.32-km extradosed foot over bridge equipped with travelators, a rail over bridge and several modern infrastructure elements designed to blend with Varanasi’s cultural heritage.
Beyond improving mobility, the corridor is expected to provide a major boost to the local economy. Faster connectivity is likely to encourage longer tourist stays and support businesses linked to hospitality, retail, transport, handicrafts and religious tourism. Thousands of people, including artisans, tour guides, hotel operators and local vendors, are expected to benefit from increased visitor movement.
The project also aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, integrating highways, railways, airports and inland waterways to strengthen multimodal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
By combining modern transport infrastructure with heritage-sensitive design, the government aims to position Varanasi as a more accessible global spiritual destination while supporting sustainable urban development and long-term economic growth.
