Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway To Slash Journey Time By Six Hours
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VARANASI-KOLKATA EXPRESSWAY TO SLASH JOURNEY TIME BY SIX HOURS
Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway To Slash Journey Time By Six Hours
The upcoming six-lane Varanasi-Kolkata expressway is set to reduce travel time to the east of India from 15 hours to 9 hours.
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BY
YASHITA VASHISHTH
Published on Feb 28, 2024, 10:01 AM IST
Representational Image Credit: UNIKYLUCKK/Shutterstock
The upcoming Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata expressway, also known as the Varanasi-Kolkata expressway, will reduce the travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata by six hours along its 610 km stretch. Currently, the journey takes about 15 hours, but with the expressway, it’ll only take about nine hours from Varanasi to reach Kolkata. The foundation stone for this expressway was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 23, 2024.
During the launch event in Varanasi, PM Modi shared that this initiative will bring Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal closer together. “In the future, the travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata is going to be almost halved,” he remarked.
The starting point of the six-lane expressway will be Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. From here, it’ll enter Bihar from Chand, pass through Imamganj in Gaya, and exit the state after covering approximately 160 km. Authorities have also proposed a five-km-long tunnel through the Kaimur Hills, which will cross the Sone River in Sasaram and Tilauthi. The Varanasi-Kolkata expressway will then enter Aurangabad through the Grand Trunk Road.
Scheduled to be completed in the next five years, the expressway will draw INR 1,317 crore in the first tranche of the project, known as Package 1. According to a report by News18, most of this sum will be used to acquire land for the highway.
The primary aim of this expressway is to connect major trade routes, thereby reducing logistical costs. Additionally, it will also link two culturally rich destinations, both situated along the banks of the sacred river Ganges. The holy city of Varanasi, or Kashi, is an established hub of art and design, while Kolkata is a melting pot of cultures, architecture, festivals, and music.
