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{{Short description|Expressway in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox road
|header_type=proposed
|country=IND
|name = Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway
|map=
|map_notes=
|length_km= 610
|direction_a= West
|direction_b= East
|terminus_a= Varanasi Ring Road, [[Chandauli district]], Uttar Pradesh
|junction=
|terminus_b= [[Uluberia]], [[Howrah district]], West Bengal
|formed= 2027 (expected)<ref name="auto">{{cite news|author1=Mishra, Amit|title=NHAI's Ambitious 610-Km Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway To Be Operational By 2027|url=https://swarajya.com/amp/story/news-headlines%2Fnhais-ambitious-610-km-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-to-be-operational-by-2027|work=Swarajya|date=9 December 2022|access-date=10 December 2022|language=en}}</ref>
|states= [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and [[West Bengal]]
|cities= [[Varanasi]], [[Chandauli]], [[Bhabua]], [[Sasaram]], [[Aurangabad, Bihar|Aurangabad]], [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], [[Chatra]], [[Hazaribagh]], [[Ramgarh district|Ramgarh]], [[Ranchi]], [[Bokaro district|Bokaro]], [[Purulia]], [[Bankura]], [[Bishnupur district, West Bengal|Bishnupur]], [[Arambag]], [[Uluberia]], [[Howrah]] and [[Kolkata]]
|maint=[[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI)
}}

'''Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway''', also known as '''Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata Expressway''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Bharatmala: Optimizing the efficiency of movement |url=https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/policy_eng.pdf |website=static.pib.gov.in |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> is an approved {{cvt|610|km}} long, six-lane, [[Greenfield land|greenfield]] [[Controlled-access highway|access-controlled expressway]], which will connect the holy city of [[Varanasi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] with the capital of [[West Bengal]], [[Kolkata]], through the capital of [[Jharkhand]], [[Ranchi]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|author1=Khurana, Jasmine|title=Varanasi Kolkata Expressway - Route, Cost, and Current Status|url=https://www.magicbricks.com/blog/varanasi-kolkata-expressway/131123.html|work=[[MagicBricks]]|date=18 February 2023|access-date=14 March 2023|language=en}}</ref> It will run almost parallel with the [[Grand Trunk Road]] or the [[Asian Highway 1]], and will pass through four states–Uttar Pradesh, [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and West Bengal.<ref name="themetrorailguy"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Gadkari announces 22 by-passes, 2 greenfield expressways for UP |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/gadkari-announces-22-by-passes---2-greenfield-expressways-for-up.html |access-date=16 March 2022 |agency=The Pioneer |publisher=www.dailypioneer.com |date=16 March 2022}}</ref> The expressway is a part of [[Bharatmala Pariyojana]], and it will reduce both travel time and distance, from 12-14 hours to only 6-7 hours, and from {{cvt|690|km}} to {{cvt|610|km}}. It will start from [[Chandauli district]] in Uttar Pradesh, and will terminate near [[Uluberia]], [[Howrah district]], West Bengal.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|author1=Khurana, Jasmine|title=Varanasi Kolkata Expressway - Route, Cost, and Current Status|url=https://www.magicbricks.com/blog/varanasi-kolkata-expressway/131123.html|work=[[MagicBricks]]|date=18 February 2023|access-date=14 March 2023|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Government of India]] has given special emphasis on infrastructure development in FY2022–23. To improve connectivity, tourism, development and economic growth in [[Eastern India]], the Government of India planned to build a new expressway from [[Varanasi]] to [[Kolkata]] through [[Ranchi]]. The expressway is expected to cut travel time from 12 to 14 hours to 6–7 hours, and from {{cvt|690|km}} to {{cvt|610|km}}. It will pass through four states–[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and [[West Bengal]]. Once completed, these states will see exponential growth with the growth of industries and socio-economic development by promoting employment among people living in the regions, which the regions currently mostly lack altogether.<ref>{{cite news |title=100 meters wide 8-lane Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway will pass through these districts of Jharkhand, know the route |url=https://newsbuzz.live/states-news/bihar-news/100-meters-wide-8-lane-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-will-pass-through-these-districts-of-jharkhand-know-the-route/ |access-date=16 March 2022 |publisher=newsbuzz.live}}</ref> The expressway was earlier slated to be 8-lane. It will be built at a cost of ₹ 23,500 crore, and will be completed by 2027, which was earlier scheduled in the first quarter of 2026.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|title=Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway – Information & Status|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/nhai-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-route-map-status-update/|work=The Metro Rail Guy|access-date=13 March 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

==Route==
{{lengths table|length_ref=<ref name="indianconstructioninfo"/>}}
|-
|[[Uttar Pradesh|UP]]
|{{convert|13.67|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Bihar|BR]]
|{{convert|98.80|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Jharkhand|JH]]
|{{convert|116.20|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[West Bengal|WB]]
|{{convert|150.37|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|'''Total'''
|{{convert|379.04|mi|km|disp=table}}
|}
=== Uttar Pradesh ===
The western terminus of the expressway will be located in [[Chandauli district]] near [[Varanasi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The western end of the expressway near Barhuli village will be connected with the [[National Highway 19 (India)|National Highway 19]] (NH-19) and the Varanasi Ring Road. The expressway will cover a total distance of {{cvt|22|km}} within Uttar Pradesh.

=== Bihar ===
The expressway will cross the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border and will enter through [[Kaimur district]] of [[Bihar]]. It will cross the state through the districts of [[Kaimur district|Kaimur]], [[Aurangabad district, Bihar|Aurangabad]], [[Rohtas district|Rohtas]] and Gaya. The expressway will cover a total distance of {{cvt|159|km}} within Bihar.

=== Jharkhand ===
The expressway will cross the Bihar-Jharkhand border and will enter the [[Bokaro district]] of [[Jharkhand]]. It will cross the state through the districts of [[Bokaro district|Bokaro]], [[Ramgarh district|Ramgarh]], [[Hazaribagh district|Hazaribagh]] and [[Chatra district|Chatra]]. The expressway will cover a total distance of {{cvt|187|km}} within Jharkhand.

===West Bengal===
The eastern terminus of the expressway will be located at [[Uluberia]], [[West Bengal]]. It will cross the state through the districts of [[Purulia district|Purulia]], [[Bankura district|Bankura]], [[Paschim Medinipur district|Paschim Medinipur]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] and [[Howrah district|Howrah]]. The expressway will cover a total distance of {{cvt|242|km}} within West Bengal.<ref name="indianconstructioninfo">{{cite news |title=Varanasi Ranchi Kolkata Expressway Complete Details of Project |url=https://indianconstructioninfo.com/varanasi-ranchi-kolkata-expressway/ |access-date=16 November 2022 |publisher=www.indianconstructioninfo.com}}</ref>

==Construction==
The expressway will be fully six-lane and a [[Greenfield land|greenfield]] project, and will be built using the [[Engineering, Procurement and Construction]] (EPC) construction model, which provides and ensures security, liability caps, and a performance guarantee for an infrastructure. For the project, the soil testing work in [[Jharkhand]] was conducted in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jharkhand: Soil testing for expressway project begins in Chatra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/soil-testing-for-expressway-project-begins-in-chatra/articleshow/92532767.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> It will run almost parallel with the [[National Highway 19 (India)|National Highway 19]] (NH-19), or the [[Asian Highway 1]] or the [[Grand Trunk Road]].<ref name="auto1"/> The land acquisition process started in January 2022 on an 80-km section of the expressway, from Tilouthu to Imamganj in [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite web |title=बिहार को एक और एक्‍सप्रेस वे की सौगात, ₹28500 करोड़ की लागत से बनेगी वाराणसी-रांची-कोलकाता हाईस्‍पीड रोड |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/patna-one-more-expressway-gift-to-bihar-rupees-28500-crore-varanasi-ranchi-kolkata-593-km-long-high-speed-road-will-soon-built-know-detail-nodmk3-4261748.html |access-date=16 November 2022|language=hi}}</ref> The [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI) released tenders and invited bids in November 2022 for the construction of the expressway. As of March 2023, the project has been divided into 13 packages, and the package division for the West Bengal section is still underway. In Package-1, NHAI issued global tenders, and allocated ₹ 988 crore for the construction of the 27 km stretch from Varanasi Ring Road in Uttar Pradesh to Khainti village in Bihar, and in Package-2, ₹ 945 crore has been allocated for the construction of another 27 km stretch from Khainti village to Palka village in Bihar, wherein it will be built using the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) mode of construction.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHAI issues tenders for six-lane greenfield Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Highway |url=https://www.projectstoday.com/News/NHAI-issues-tenders-for-six-lane-greenfield-Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata-Highway |access-date=16 November 2022}}</ref> In the West Bengal section, the [[Government of West Bengal]] has directed 6 districts of the state to carry out land acquisition for the project, and is underway.<ref name="etvbharat">{{cite news |title= কলকাতা-বারাণসী এক্সপ্রেসওয়ের জন্য ৬ জেলাকে দ্রুত জমি অধিগ্রহণের নির্দেশ মুখ্যসচিবের |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/bengali/west-bengal/state/kolkata/chief-secretary-directs-6-districts-to-acquire-land-for-kolkata-varanasi-expressway/wb20221222160856089089504 |access-date=18 January 2023 |agency=etvbharat |publisher=www.etvbharat.com |date=22 December 2022 |location=Kolkata |language=bn}}</ref> Currently, the project is under [[Project plan|Detailed Project Report]] (DPR) preparation and land acquisition. The following table list the project's packages, contractors and their statuses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway – Information & Status|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/nhai-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-route-map-status-update/|work=The Metro Rail Guy|access-date=7 April 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=15 Bidders for Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway’s Construction Work|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2023/03/03/15-bidders-for-varanasi-kolkata-expressways-construction-work/|work=The Metro Rail Guy|date=3 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023|language=en}}</ref>
===Uttar Pradesh/Bihar===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Packages
!Chainages{{efn|Distances from the origin of the expressway, i.e., [[Varanasi]].}}
!Contractor
!Status
|-
|'''Package-1'''
|Junction with [[National Highway 19 (India)|NH-19]] and Varanasi Ring Road near Rewasa village ([[Chandauli district]]) to junction with [[Chandauli]]-Chainpur road near Khainti village ([[Kaimur district]], [[Bihar]]) (0.000 km-27.000 km)
|NKC Projects
|Land acquisition underway
|}
===Bihar===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Packages
!Chainages
!Contractor
!Status
|-
|'''Package-2'''
|Junction with Chandauli-Chainpur Road near Khainti village to junction with [[Bhabhua]]-Adhaura road near Palka village, [[Kaimur district]] (27.000 km-54.000 km)
|PNC Infratech Pvt. Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-3'''
|Junction with Bhabhua-Adhaura road in Bhairopur village to Konki village ([[Rohtas district]]) (54.000 km-90.000 km)
|PNC Infratech Pvt. Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-4'''
|TBA
|Pending notice
|Bidding process underway
|-
|'''Package-5'''
|Junction with [[National Highway 119 (India)|NH-119]] in Malpura village to Lerua village ([[Aurangabad district, Bihar|Aurangabad district]]), including a 4-lane spur to NH-19 from NH-119 (spur length-6.6 km) (105.300 km to 116.000 km)
|TBA
|Bidding process underway
|-
|'''Package-6'''
|Pachmon village to Anarbansalea village, Aurangabad district (116.000 km to 151.200 km)
|PNC Infratech Pvt. Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-7'''
|Anarbansalea village to Sagrampur village ([[Gaya district]]) (151.200 km to 184.700 km)
|GR Infraprojects
|Land acquisition underway
|}
===Jharkhand===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Packages
!Chainages
!Contractor
!Status
|-
|'''Package-8'''
|Sonepurbigha village to junction with [[National Highway 22 (India)|NH-22]] near [[Chatra]], [[Chatra district]] (184.700 km to 222.000 km)
|Tracks and Towers Infratech Pvt. Ltd.–[[Rail Vikas Nigam Limited]] ([[Joint venture|JV]])
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-9'''
|Chatra to junction with [[National Highway 100 (India)|NH-100]] in Deoria village ([[Hazaribagh district]]) (222.000 km to 253.000 km)
|Ram Kripal Singh Construction Pvt. Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-10'''
|Deoria village to Donoreshan village ([[Ramgarh district]]) (253.000 km to 288.600 km)
|H.G. Infra Engineering Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-11'''
|Donoreshan village to junction with [[National Highway 20 (India)|NH-20]] in Bongabar village, Ramgarh district (288.600 km to 325.500 km)
|Ceigall India
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-12'''
|Junction with NH-20 in Bongabar village to Junction with [[National Highway 320 (India)|NH-320]] in Lepo village ([[Bokaro district]]) (325.500 km to 358.500 km)
|Ceigall India
|Land acquisition underway
|-
|'''Package-13'''
|Junction with NH-320 in Lepo village to Kamlapur village (Jharkhand-West Bengal border) (358.500 km to 387.200 km)
|H.G. Infra Engineering Ltd.
|Land acquisition underway
|}

The remaining stretch till [[Kolkata]] is under package division, land acquisition and DPR preparation.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="etvbharat"/>

==Benefits==
The expressway will benefit Eastern India along with the entire country as follows:<ref name="auto1"/>
*'''Trade:''' The expressway will help to boost trade, increase exports and reduce dependency on imports, as it will result in the growth of industries in Eastern India, along the route through which the expressway will pass, especially in the adjoining regions of [[Kolkata]] further, and due to its location near the sea with two major ports–[[Kolkata Port|Kolkata]] and [[Haldia Port|Haldia]], resulting in a huge benefit for transporting steel and coal to the ports from the famous steel plants and coal mines located in the mineral-rich state of Jharkhand, the [[Bokaro Steel Plant]] and [[Jharia coalfield|coal mines of Dhanbad]], thus accelerating economic growth and development in the four states.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Singh, Atul|title=कोयले व लोहे के व्‍यपार को म‍िलेगी रफ्तार... बोकारो के प‍िछड़े व नक्‍सल इलकों की बदलेगी क‍िस्‍मत|url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/bokaro-varanasi-ranchi-kolkata-expressway-coal-and-iron-business-would-be-boom-in-bokaro-dhanbad-area-youth-will-get-job-opportunity-jharkhnad-bihar-west-bengal-up-top-news-22969653.html|work=Jagran|date=11 August 2022|access-date=17 March 2023|language=hi}}</ref>
*'''Tourism:''' It will help to boost tourism by promoting it in places which currently lack, along its route. The alignment of the expressway has been specially made through the backward areas to help facilitate tourism and development, due to a high presence of small tourist spots, dotted across the four states, especially in Jharkhand and the western part of West Bengal, but remain relatively unknown to most people because of lack of accessibility to those areas.
*'''Connectivity:''' The expressway will create a direct route between [[Varanasi]] and Kolkata, by reducing both travel time and distance from 12 to 14 hours to only 6 to 7 hours, and from 690 km to 610 km. It will not only connect Varanasi, but will also connect Kolkata directly with the [[national capital]], as well as [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], through a series of expressways, along with this–[[Purvanchal Expressway]], [[Agra–Lucknow Expressway]] and [[Yamuna Expressway]] to [[Delhi]], and to Jammu and Kashmir via the [[Delhi–Katra Expressway]]. In the coming years, instead of Purvanchal and Agra–Lucknow Expressways, the [[Ganga Expressway]] will connect Kolkata more faster, as well as with [[Haridwar]]. This expressway till Varanasi will also connect [[Rajasthan]] via the [[Chambal Expressway]] through the Agra–Lucknow Expressway. This series of expressways will result in faster, better and safer commute for both the transport of goods and people, with the rest of the country, from Eastern India.
*'''Protection of the Environment:''' To protect the green cover, plants and trees will be planted between and on both sides along the entire route of the expressway. In the [[Kaimur district]] section of [[Bihar]], a 5 km-long tunnel will be built along the hilly region to avoid deforestation.
*'''Employment:''' Due to increase in industrial activities along the expressway's route, various agricultural and industrial initiatives will help in the economy and growth of Eastern India. The establishment of these numerous centres will result in multiple job possibilities for thousands of people living in the four states.

==Status updates==
*'''2019:''' The expressway's plan was proposed by the [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (India)| Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]] (MoRTH).<ref name="themetrorailguy">{{cite web |title=Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway – Information & Status |url=https://themetrorailguy.com/nhai-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-route-map-status-update/|website=The Metro Rail Guy |access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>
*'''November 2022:''' The [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI) launched tenders for the project.<ref name="themetrorailguy"></ref>
*'''January 2023:''' Land acquisition began for the project.<ref name="themetrorailguy"></ref>
*'''March 2023:''' 15 bidders participated to construct 8 packages of the expressway.<ref>{{cite news|title=15 Bidders for Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway’s Construction Work|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2023/03/03/15-bidders-for-varanasi-kolkata-expressways-construction-work/|work=The Metro Rail Guy|date=3 March 2023|access-date=15 March 2023|language=en}}</ref>
*'''March 2023:''' 11 bidders participated to construct the expressway's [[Jharkhand]] to the Jharkhand-[[West Bengal]] border section.<ref>{{cite news|title=11 Bidders for Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway’s Packages 11-13|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2023/03/13/11-bidders-for-varanasi-kolkata-expressways-packages-11-13/|work=The Metro Rail Guy|date=13 March 2023|access-date=15 March 2023|language=en}}</ref>
*'''April 2023:''' The bidding process has been entirely completed for the Jharkhand section, and land acquisition has started.<ref>{{cite web |title=Varanasi – Kolkata Expressway – Information & Status |url=https://themetrorailguy.com/nhai-varanasi-kolkata-expressway-route-map-status-update/|website=The Metro Rail Guy |access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Expressways of India]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolkata-Varanasi Expressway}}
[[Category:Expressways in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Expressways in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Proposed expressways in India]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in Bihar]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Transport in Varanasi]]
[[Category:Transport in Kolkata]]

Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article