en.Wedoany.com Reported - The expert committee of India's Ministry of Environment has given the green light to the Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for this flagship corridor under the Bharatmala project. The expressway will pass through Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, connecting Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kolkata. Early estimates project the cost at approximately Rs 28,500 crore to Rs 35,000 crore, with a total length of about 610 to 620 kilometers.
The latest filing documents show that a 235-kilometer newly constructed expressway section in West Bengal requires forest diversion. The expert panel noted that the West Bengal section will involve the diversion of over 103 hectares of protected and reserved forest land, as well as the felling of approximately 50,000 trees located in both forest and non-forest areas. The panel recommended constructing wildlife crossing structures as advised by the Divisional Forest Officer, including underpasses with heights of up to 8 to 10 meters, and bridges with spans of about 300 meters where necessary, to reduce habitat fragmentation and maintain ecological connectivity.
Currently, the road journey from Varanasi to Kolkata typically takes 12 to 14 hours. The expressway is expected to reduce travel time to 6 to 7 hours, roughly halving it, and improve freight transport between eastern and northern India. The expressway is seen as an economic artery, capable of connecting industrial and logistics hubs with the eastern metropolis more efficiently, supporting trade and tourism across the region. Several states have advanced preparatory work, while others have requested adjustments to the expressway alignment, highlighting the need for continuous inter-state coordination. Execution risks remain, including final approval for forest diversion, timely implementation of wildlife protection measures, land acquisition, and ongoing coordination among states.
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