Shruti Suman
The Varanasi Ranchi Kolkata Expressway, a 6-lane east-west thoroughfare, is set to significantly reduce travel time between various cities. Once completed, travelers will be able to journey from Varanasi to Kolkata in just 7 hours, a remarkable improvement from the current 12 to 14-hour journey. The expressway, expected to be finished by 2026, covers approximately 690 km, connecting Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata in West Bengal, passing through Bihar and Jharkhand.
The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 35,000 crore, will feature various key points along its route. It will begin in Varanasi and enter Bihar at Chand, then proceed through Jharkhand and finally reach its destination in Bengal. Notable features include a proposed 5Km tunnel in the Kaimur hills to cross the Sone River in Tilauthu, Sasaram, and entry into Aurangabad district via the Grand Trunk road.
This expressway, designated as NH319B by NHAI, will play a crucial role in connectivity and travel efficiency, serving as a parallel route to National Highway NH-19 (formerly NH-12). The foundation stone for Package-I of this ambitious project, costing Rs 1,317 crore including land acquisition, is scheduled to be laid by Prime Minister Modi. Overall, this infrastructure development under the Bharatmala Pariyojna (BMP) program aims to revolutionize travel and transportation in the region.
