New Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway to Reduce Travel Time

17 May 2023 CW Team

A proposed new greenfield expressway between Varanasi and Kolkata could reduce the travel time between the two cities from 12-14 hours to just 6-7 hours, according to a report.

The expressway, which is expected to be completed by 2026, will run parallel to the existing National Highway 19 (NH-19) and will pass through four states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It will be six lanes wide and will be able to accommodate future expansion to eight lanes.

The expressway is expected to have a significant economic impact on the region, as it will make it easier and faster to transport goods and people between the two major cities. It is also expected to boost tourism in the region, as it will make it easier for people to visit the many historical and cultural sites that are located along the route.

The construction of the expressway is being funded by the Indian government, and it is expected to cost around ₹3,000 crore (£330 million). The project is being overseen by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The NHAI has already begun the process of acquiring land for the project, and it is expected to start construction in the next few months. The expressway is expected to be completed in four phases, with the first phase being completed by 2023.

The construction of the Varanasi-Kolkata expressway is a major infrastructure project that will have a significant impact on the region. It is expected to reduce travel time, boost economic growth, and promote tourism.

Also Read
ONGC Cancels Bids for Daman Gas Project
ONGC Videsh raises $500 million loan from consortium of banks

Infrastructure Transport

17 Sep 2025

Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari Highway Set for Completion by December 2025

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set a new target to complete the four-lane Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari highway by December 2025, following a two-year delay.Originally planned in 2018 to upgrade the two-lane state highway into a national highway, the project is estimated to cost Rs 9 billion. Construction, which began in 2021, was initially scheduled for completion in November 2023. According to NHAI, around 70 per cent of the work is already complete, with two major structures still pending: a railway overbridge at Pahari village and a two-lane unidirectional flyover on Dwarka E..

UP Plans Rs 900 Million Extensions to Hindon Elevated Road

The Uttar Pradesh state bridge corporation has prepared the detailed project report and cost estimates for two proposed extensions of the 10.3-km Hindon elevated road, officials said on Thursday. The road connects Raj Nagar Extension to UP-Gate near the east Delhi border, and the project is expected to cost around Rs 900 million.The two extensions, each 400 metres long, will be added to the existing elevated road to ensure smoother traffic flow. “One of the extensions will be from near the Kanawani culvert (near Indirapuram) to the elevated road for commuters heading towards Delhi. The other..

Goa Likely to Miss October Deadline for Maritime Master Plan

Goa is expected to miss the October 31 deadline for submitting its maritime and waterways master plan, which covers the state’s 105 km coastline and river network. The delay is due to the project management consultant not yet being appointed. The plan is now anticipated to be completed by December, Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues stated at the India Maritime Week 2025 roadshow.“We have already selected the consultant and will bring them on board within a week. Only then can we begin drafting the master plan, which is essential to secure central government funding,” Rodrigues added.A c..