PM Modi to Inaugurate India's Widest Rail-Cum-Road Bridge in Varanasi on October 20

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Varanasi on October 20, where he will lay the foundation stone for 23 projects worth Rs 1300 crore.

During his visit, he is expected to inaugurate the “Signature Double-Decker Bridge,” a rail-cum-road bridge that will cross the Ganga River and link the Varanasi and Chaundali districts. This bridge is noted to be the widest railway bridge in the country, equipped with a six-lane roadway.

Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet approved the construction of a rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga River. This project is estimated to cost around Rs 2,642 crore and is expected to be completed within four years.

Malviya Bridge over Ganga

During a press conference on Wednesday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the new bridge and highlighted the importance of the Malviya Bridge in Varanasi. He referred to it as a vital railway bridge that connects northern, eastern, and western states. Vaishnaw emphasized the need for its replacement.

He noted that the Malviya Bridge, a 137-year-old rail-cum-road structure featuring two railway lines and two road lanes, is currently operating at 163 percent capacity between Varanasi and DDU Junction. To alleviate this congestion, a new rail-road bridge will be constructed over the Ganga, which will include four railway lines and a six-lane roadway, all at an estimated cost of Rs 2,642 crore.