Ayodhya–Varanasi Six-Lane High-Speed Access-Controlled Corridor to Boost Connectivity and Religious Tourism
Ayodhya is set to receive another major infrastructure milestone with the proposed Ayodhya–Varanasi High-Speed Access-Controlled Corridor. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited tenders to appoint a consultant agency for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of this ambitious project.
According to NHAI Project Director Avneesh Siddharth, the selection of the consultant agency is the first step toward initiating the DPR process. The agency will conduct extensive surveys and is expected to take at least one and a half years to complete the DPR. The proposed corridor will be a six-lane high-speed expressway.
Travel Time to Reduce to Just Two Hours
Once completed, the corridor will significantly improve connectivity between Ayodhya and Varanasi. The current travel time of four to five hours will be reduced to approximately two hours, while the distance between the two cities will decrease by nearly 50 kilometers, bringing it down to around 200 kilometers. This time-saving infrastructure is expected to give a major boost to religious and spiritual tourism in the region.
Corridor Alignment and Key Connectivity Points
According to Brijesh Tripathi, district coordinator of Namami Gange (BJP), a drone survey for the project was conducted by the central government nearly two years ago. Survey markers were placed in agricultural fields near Babuapur and Vandanpur in Mayabazar block, from where the corridor will enter Ambedkar Nagar district. The proposed zero point of the corridor is expected to be Rampur Halwara.
The corridor will directly connect to Dashrath Samadhi, making travel from Varanasi to Ayodhya more seamless. Beyond Ambedkar Nagar, the road will link Purvanchal, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot, creating a strong spiritual circuit connecting Kashi, Ayodhya, and Chitrakoot.
Ring Road to Be Completed Before Corridor
While the high-speed corridor will take time to materialize, a 67-kilometer-long ring road is expected to be completed by 2027. This ₹2,500-crore project will connect Ayodhya, Gonda, and Basti districts, further strengthening regional connectivity. Once operational, the ring road will significantly improve travel between Ayodhya, Gonda, and Basti.
A Major Step Toward Infrastructure and Tourism Growth
The Ayodhya–Varanasi high-speed corridor is poised to transform road connectivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh, enhance pilgrimage travel, and support long-term economic and tourism development in the region.
