On 15 July 2026 the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved two elevated highway corridors for Varanasi under the Varanasi Decongestion Plan, with a combined investment of ₹25,445.96 crore.
Varuna River Corridor
- Cost & length: ₹10,998.32 crore; 43.218 km.
- Configuration: Predominantly 6/4‑lane elevated corridor along the Varuna River.
- Connectivity: Links National Highway‑31 with the Varanasi Ring Road.
- Travel time impact: NH‑31 to Kashi Railway Station estimated reduction from 40 minutes to 20 minutes.
Ganga River Corridor
- Cost & length: ₹14,447.64 crore; 46.039 km.
- Configuration: Six‑lane elevated corridor along the Ganga River.
- Key structures: 910‑metre cable‑stayed bridge across the Ganga; 1.32‑km extradosed foot‑overbridge with travelators towards Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
- Connectivity: Links National Highway‑19 with the Varanasi Ring Road.
Implementation & Financing
- Implementing agency: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- Procurement model: Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) — government provides ~40% of project cost during construction; remaining ~60% paid as annuities over the concession period; private partner finances construction and undertakes O&M risk.
- Project purpose: Urban decongestion by linking major highways, ring road, railway nodes and pilgrimage access points.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- CCEA: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is chaired by the Prime Minister and approves major capital projects.
- Bridge types: Cable‑stayed bridges use towers with inclined cables; extradosed bridges combine short stay cables with girder action for medium spans.
- Authority: NHAI operates under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and executes national highway projects.