NHAI names Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway as NH319B

According to a recent announcement by a road construction department (RCD) official on Sunday, the forthcoming six-lane Greenfield expressway connecting Varanasi to Kolkata has been designated as NH319B by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).The NHAI issued an official notification, confirming the name NH319B for this 610-km long expressway, which will traverse four districts each in Bihar and Jharkhand before entering West Bengal through Purulia district.The RCD engineer stated that once the expressway obtains its distinctive identity as NH319B, the process of land acquisition will be expedited.Originating from Varanasi, the expressway will enter Bihar at Chand, passing through Chaudali in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and exit at Imamganj in Gaya, covering a distance of approximately 160 km.A proposed five-kilometre tunnel is planned to be constructed in the Kaimur hills, crossing the Sone River in Tilauthu of Sasaram to enter Aurangabad, along the Grand Trunk road.A senior officer of NHAI based in Patna mentioned that the cost of construction is expected to increase due to the NHAI's proposal for an almost straight alignment of the expressway.The estimated cost of building this expressway is Rs 350 billlion, and it will enter Jharkhand from Hunterganj in Chatra, continuing through Hazaribag and Ramgarh before exiting to West Bengal's Purulia district.To facilitate connectivity, the Jharkhand RCD will link the expressway with Ranchi's ring road. Upon completion, the expressway (NH319B) is predicted to significantly reduce travel time between Kolkata and Varanasi, effectively halving the current 12-14 hour journey for the 690 km distance.Additionally, the expressway is expected to boost trade activities in Bihar, as it will be linked to the upcoming logistics park in Gaya. It will also offer Bihar easy access to the Kolkata port, facilitating the export of goods.