Varanasi Elevated Highway Project Explained: Route Map, Cost and How It Will Transform City Travel
Among the largest urban road infrastructure projects ever to be undertaken in Varanasi, the Union cabinet has cleared plans for two elevated expressways in Varanasi costing Rs. 25,446 crore each. Intended to ease traffic jams in the holy city, it is anticipated that these projects will drastically reduce travel time for residents and devotees of the city.
The two expressways will pass mostly along the banks of the River Ganges and Varuna.
What Is the Varanasi Elevated Highway Project?
The Varanasi Elevated Highway Project comprises two major highways that have been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
Firstly, there is the Varuna Highway, a 43.2 km-long, primarily 6- and 4-lane highway located on the banks of the Varuna river. Secondly, there is the Ganga Highway, a 46.04 km-long, primarily 6-lane highway linking NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the banks of the Ganga River.
What Is the Total Cost?
The total estimated cost of both these projects is ₹25,446 crore.
While the cost of the Ganga Corridor is expected to be about ₹14,447 crore, the rest of the funds will be utilized in building the Varuna Corridor and other related infrastructure. Both these projects are going to be carried out by NHAI through different execution modes such as HAM.
Route Map Explained
Even though the final drawings for the engineering designs would only come out at the implementation phase, the adopted alignments are based largely on the two major rivers of the city.
The Varuna Corridor would be aligned alongside the Varuna River, thus offering a high-speed corridor through northern Varanasi that would connect urban nodes without being dependent on the busy roads of the city.
The Ganga Corridor would join NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road via a six-lane elevated route along the Ganga riverbank.
How Will It Transform Travel in Varanasi?
It is worth mentioning that traffic congestion was among the major problems faced by Varanasi, especially during religious festivals and pilgrim seasons.
As per the details of the project that was approved, the speed limit on the corridors will be up to 100 kilometers per hour while the usual speed limit in the city is about 20 kilometers per hour. The speed difference might decrease the time spent in traveling significantly.
Another important factor is that the elevated roads will take away through traffic from the crowded city roads.
Benefits for Pilgrims and Residents
Every year Varanasi is visited by millions of tourists, thus putting immense strain on its transport network.
The elevated road networks are expected to offer rapid connectivity with the major highways, Ring Road, railway junctions, and the significant religious sites in the city by cutting down the travel time through congested areas.
These are some of the benefits that the citizens are expected to derive from the elevated road networks.
Economic Impact
Apart from helping reduce the number of vehicles on the roads, the development project is also anticipated to bolster Varanasi’s position as a tourist destination and economic center.
Better connections will be of assistance in terms of the movement of goods, attract investors, promote local businesses, and ensure that people who travel to Varanasi via roads have improved access.
When Will Construction Begin?
Following the Cabinet’s approval, the projects are ready to progress to the implementation stage through land acquisition, final engineering and construction schedule.
As the projects involve some of the biggest urban highways in India, the construction process is expected to be phased over a period of time.
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Conclusion
The Varanasi Elevated Highway Project can be regarded as the most ambitious road infrastructure project being pursued in the city. With a total expenditure of over ₹25,000 crore, the Ganga and Varuna elevated highways have been projected to revolutionize the mode of transportation in Varanasi by improving connectivity and facilitating the growth of the city.
With the successful execution of the new highway projects, there could be a drastic change in the transportation scenario of Varanasi.
