Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities and the spiritual capital of India, welcomes over 15 crore tourists and pilgrims every year. While this growing influx reflects the city's global significance, it has also placed tremendous pressure on its urban transport network. Congestion on key arterial roads often results in long travel times to major religious, educational and cultural landmarks, affecting both pilgrims and residents while impacting logistics and economic activity. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) proposed a transformative urban mobility solution, which was approved by the Union Cabinet last month. The Cabinet has approved the development of a 46.039 km six-lane Greenfield Ganga Elevated Corridor, along with ramps, loops and an extradosed Foot Over Bridge, between NH-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road (NH-135B) in Uttar Pradesh, at a total capital cost of ₹14,447.64 crore. Conceived as a high-speed, access-controlled corridor, the project will connect NH-19, the Varanasi Ring Road, Ramnagar, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and other key destinations, significantly decongesting the road network of Varanasi and Chandauli while strengthening Varanasi's position as a global spiritual destination.

Connecting Millions to Kashi

The project is designed to make journeys to Kashi faster, safer and more convenient for millions of pilgrims and visitors. It will dramatically improve connectivity to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Ghats of Varanasi, Namo Ghat, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Ramnagar Fort and Kashi Railway Station, ensuring easier access to the city's most important religious and cultural landmarks.

An elevated spur between BHU/Lanka and Samne Ghat will further ease congestion at the busy Lanka Junction by separating through traffic from local traffic movement. Together, these improvements will enhance the pilgrimage experience while reducing pressure on the existing city road network.

Designed for an operating speed of 80-100 kmph, the corridor is expected to reduce average travel time across the project influence area from nearly 60 minutes to about 20 minutes, a reduction of approximately 67 per cent. Travel time between NH-19 and Kashi Railway Station will also reduce from around 50 minutes to about 25 minutes, making travel significantly faster and more reliable for residents, pilgrims and tourists alike.

Where Heritage Meets Modern Infrastructure

Building modern infrastructure in a city with over 3,000 years of history demands an approach that respects its cultural legacy. The corridor incorporates several landmark engineering features, including 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 that will provide seamless pedestrian connectivity to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and a Rail Over Bridge over the existing and proposed Malviya Bridge.

Additional features such as dedicated emergency parking bays, noise barriers, façade lighting and architectural elements inspired by the cultural heritage of Varanasi will not only improve mobility but also enhance the city's urban landscape. These iconic structures are expected to become new landmarks, reinforcing Varanasi's identity as one of India's foremost spiritual and cultural destinations.

Powering the Economy of Pilgrimage

Every pilgrim visiting Varanasi contributes to a vibrant local economy that supports thousands of livelihoods. Priests, boatmen, tour guides, flower vendors, artisans, handicraft sellers, hotels, restaurants and transport operators all benefit from the steady flow of visitors.

By improving accessibility and reducing travel delays, the corridor will encourage longer visitor stays and greater exploration of the city's cultural and commercial offerings. Better connectivity will also improve the movement of goods and services, creating a strong multiplier effect across tourism, hospitality, retail and allied sectors. The project, therefore, is not merely an investment in transport infrastructure but also an investment in local livelihoods and sustainable regional economic growth.

Strengthening Multimodal Connectivity

Aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the corridor will create a seamless multimodal transport ecosystem by integrating highways, railways, airports and inland waterways. It will provide enhanced connectivity to NH-19, the Varanasi Ring Road, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Kashi Railway Station and the Ramnagar IWAI Inland Waterways Terminal, enabling efficient movement of both passengers and freight.

By linking key economic, social and logistics nodes, the project will improve logistics efficiency, strengthen last-mile connectivity, enhance road safety and facilitate smoother movement across eastern Uttar Pradesh. The project will also support sustainable urban growth while ensuring that Varanasi remains well connected to national and international transport networks.

 

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