The Union Cabinet has approved two major elevated corridor projects worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore in Varanasi, marking a major infrastructure initiatives for the holy city in recent years. The Ganga Corridor and Varuna Corridor are expected to improve urban mobility, reduce congestion and support the growing number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the city every year.

The projects are aimed at creating faster road connectivity while also strengthening tourism infrastructure in one of India’s oldest and most significant spiritual destinations.

Ganga Elevated Corridor to reduce travel time

The larger project, the 46-km six-lane Ganga Elevated Corridor, will connect NH-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road through an alignment along the Ganga river.

Developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the elevated corridor is designed to divert traffic away from congested city roads while minimising disruption to existing settlements.

According to the project plan, the corridor is expected to increase average travel speeds to nearly 100 kmph, significantly reducing travel time on the route from around 60 minutes to approximately 20 minutes.

Apart from improving connectivity, the project also focuses on tourism. Plans include a cable-stayed bridge that could become a new landmark for Varanasi, along with dedicated viewpoints and visitor spaces overlooking the Ganga and its ghats.

The project covers several villages, including Samne, Domri, Sirgovardhanpur, Chhitupur, Kila Kohna, Korauta, Ramnagar, Bhagwanpur, Sujabad, Nagwa, Nadesar and Varidpur. Authorities have halted land sale and purchase activities in these villages as part of the project process.

Varuna Corridor to improve access from neighbouring districts

The Cabinet has also approved the 43.2-km Varuna Elevated Corridor, estimated to cost around Rs 11,000 crore.

The project will connect NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road along the Varuna river through a network of elevated roads, flyovers, ramps, loops and link roads to improve movement across the city.

A key feature is a 21-km elevated section extending from near Harahua to the confluence of the Varuna and Ganga rivers near Namo Ghat.

The four-lane corridor is expected to provide direct access for travellers arriving from Lucknow, Jaunpur and Prayagraj, allowing them to reach Namo Ghat without entering congested city roads. Pilgrims will then be able to travel by boat to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, helping reduce traffic pressure in central Varanasi.

Part of the project will pass through approximately 2.56 acres of land under the Cantonment Board, for which approval from the Ministry of Defence was required.

The Varuna Corridor alignment includes villages such as Kuduhana, Rustampur, Parshurampur, Sarai, Piran, Baragaon Pratham, Chhapri, Loharapur, Raniyapur, Chhitauni, Korauta, Kila Kohna, Inderpur, Sirista, Chauka, Jetupur, Kazi Sarsaulpur, Atharpur, Makdoompur, Bhatke, Karanjapur and Katesar in Sadar tehsil.

Projects planned as tourist numbers continue to rise

The approval comes as Varanasi continues to witness a sharp increase in tourist and pilgrim arrivals. According to the information shared, the city now receives nearly 15 crore visitors annually, increasing the need for stronger transport infrastructure to manage traffic efficiently.

The government expects the two corridor projects to improve accessibility while supporting the city’s long-term urban development and tourism growth.

Industry experts see wider economic benefits

Industry representatives have welcomed the projects, saying their impact could extend beyond transport improvements.

Aman Gupta, Director of RPS Group, said the Ganga and Varuna Corridor projects represent an integrated approach to urban development by combining connectivity, tourism and public infrastructure. He said better connectivity often encourages investment, employment generation and real estate development.

Gupta also noted that infrastructure-led development has produced similar outcomes in the National Capital Region, citing projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Metro expansion, Jewar International Airport and the proposed Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad Expressway.

Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Garg, Chairman of NorthWind Estates, said the corridors could strengthen Varanasi’s position as a global spiritual, cultural and tourism destination while supporting economic growth through sectors such as hospitality, retail, commercial real estate and employment.

He added that Uttar Pradesh’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy would receive support from continued investments in infrastructure, including expressways, airports and urban development projects that encourage private investment and improve ease of doing business.

A crucial meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) top leadership was held at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, among other senior leaders.

Meeting held before Parliament session

The gathering comes just days before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence on July 20 and continue until August 13.

There was no official statement from the party regarding the agenda or discussions held during the meeting. As a result, the issues deliberated upon remain undisclosed.

Reshuffle speculation continues

The meeting also took place amid ongoing speculation about a possible reshuffle in the BJP’s national office-bearers’ team as well as the Union Council of Ministers. However, no official confirmation has been issued regarding any organisational or Cabinet changes.

NDA meeting likely on July 21

Meanwhile, sources indicated that a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents is likely to be held on July 21. The alliance partners are expected to discuss their floor coordination and legislative strategy for the Monsoon Session.

The Monsoon Session is expected to witness discussions on key legislative business, with the ruling alliance preparing its parliamentary strategy ahead of the proceedings.

The Centre is reviewing responses submitted by WhatsApp, Telegram and Zoho Bharat Eye regarding their username-based messaging features, as the government evaluates whether regulatory action is required. A notification on the issue could be issued within the next 20 days.

MeitY examines responses from messaging platforms

According to sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), WhatsApp, Telegram and Zoho Bharat Eye have responded to government notices concerning username-based messaging features.

The ministry’s legal team is scrutinising the replies to determine whether any existing legal provisions have been violated and whether any clauses can be invoked for regulatory action or sanctions.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a cybersecurity report on Monday, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed that WhatsApp’s response had been received over the weekend and is currently under examination.

“The reply was received last week. We are examining the response and action, if any, will be taken after that examination,” he said.

Government stresses uniform regulatory approach

The government has maintained that any regulatory framework introduced in connection with username-based messaging will apply equally across all messaging platforms rather than targeting any single service.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that a notification on the matter is expected within the next 20 days. The ongoing review is focused on examining the legal implications rather than being a purely policy exercise.

Why the government raised concerns

MeitY had issued notices to WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal after expressing concerns that username-based messaging, which allows users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, could be misused for impersonation, phishing, identity theft and so-called “digital arrest” scams.

Earlier, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the platform is primarily designed as a private messaging service that helps people stay connected with friends and family.

The review forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen online safety, curb the misuse of digital communication platforms and ensure that any future regulations are implemented uniformly across messaging services.