Durgapur, West Bengal ([16th may,2024]):
Significantly improved travel times are on the horizon for those commuting between Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Kolkata, West Bengal. The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway project, a major infrastructure initiative, is poised to revolutionize travel in Eastern India.4
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this project in February 2024. Upon completion, the expressway is expected to drastically reduce travel time between the two cities, currently ranging from 12 to 14 hours, to a much swifter 6-7 hours.
This greenfield expressway, designated as NH-319B, will be a six-lane, access-controlled highway stretching approximately 610 kilometers. It will commence near the Varanasi Ring Road in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, and culminate near Uluberia in Howrah district, West Bengal.
Estimated at a cost of Rs 35,000 crore, the project is slated for completion by 2026. The expressway's benefits extend beyond faster travel times. It is anticipated to generate significant economic advantages for the region. By establishing a high-speed corridor connecting key trade routes, the expressway is expected to reduce logistics costs, thereby stimulating industrial activity across the four states it traverses: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
A noteworthy feature of the expressway is a proposed five-kilometer tunnel through the Kaimur Hills. This tunnel will facilitate the efficient crossing of the Sone River near Tilauthu in Bihar.
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway project signifies a transformative step for travel and trade in Eastern India. It promises not only enhanced connectivity between major cities but also the unlocking of economic potential through streamlined logistics and the promotion of industrial development.
