Namo Bridge Named; Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train Speed Revealed
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces the Namo Bridge in Varanasi and the Northern Bullet Train Corridor connecting Delhi to Varanasi in 3h 33m.
In a massive boost to infrastructure and connectivity, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced two game-changing developments for Varanasi. The city's upcoming signature bridge will officially be named the Namo Bridge, and the highly anticipated Northern Bullet Train Corridor is set to transform travel between Delhi and Kashi.
The ₹2,657 Crore Namo Bridge
Named due to its proximity to the Namo Ghat, the new signature bridge is a massive double-decker hybrid structure. Spanning approximately 2.5 kilometers, the project comes with a budget of ₹2,657 crore and is slated for completion by 2029.
The bridge is designed to handle multiple modes of transport simultaneously to tackle urban congestion:
- Upper Deck: A six-lane road corridor for seamless vehicular movement.
- Lower Deck: Four dedicated railway tracks.
Once completed, this bridge will provide vital connectivity to the Kashi Railway Station and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, significantly easing local traffic.
High-Speed Connectivity: Northern Bullet Train Corridor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Northern Bullet Train Corridor, a high-speed network that will redefine travel across Northern India. The most significant highlight is the connection between Delhi and Varanasi, which is expected to take just 3 hours and 33 minutes.
The corridor will follow a route connecting major cities including Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Patna, eventually reaching Guwahati. Here is the projected travel time for key segments:
- Delhi to Agra: 59 minutes
- Delhi to Kanpur: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Delhi to Lucknow: 2 hours 12 minutes
- Varanasi to Lucknow: 1 hour 21 minutes
- Varanasi to Patna: 1 hour
To ensure this high-speed technology is accessible to the masses, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that bullet train fares will be priced lower than airfares. This strategy aims to make high-speed travel affordable for the middle class, farmers, and economically weaker sections of society.
Vande Bharat Sleeper and Kashi Station Redevelopment
The announcement also included the launch of a second Vande Bharat sleeper train. This new service will connect Varanasi and New Delhi via Prayagraj and Kanpur Central, providing a premium overnight travel option.
Furthermore, plans are moving forward to transform the Kashi railway station into a world-class transit hub. The redevelopment aims to create a facility capable of accommodating over 50,000 passengers at a single time, integrating perfectly with the new Namo Bridge infrastructure to create a seamless travel experience in the holy city.