The construction of Varanasi to Kolkata via Ranchi Expressway will start by the end of this year. At present, the alignment has been decided to build it and the process of land acquisition has started. This expressway, which will be built at a cost of about Rs 24 thousand 275 crores in a length of about 686 km, will pass through three districts of Bihar, Kaimur, Rohtas and Aurangabad districts. This will save about 50 percent time in traveling from these districts to Kolkata. Along with this, Bihar will get new connectivity from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. This will bring great convenience to the people.

According to sources, this expressway to be built in the second phase of the Bharatmala project will start from the junction of Varanasi Ring Road and NH-19. It will travel from Mughalsarai, Bhabua, Sasaram, Aurangabad, Sherghati, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Purulia to Uluberia near Howrah. In this alignment, a separate 85 km long link road will be built to go to Kharagpur and Ranchi.

This entire road will be greenfield ie new. At present there are 1455.4 km of expressways in the country. At present, there are 50 expressways in the country, on which trains run at a speed of 120 kmph. Now trains will be able to run at a speed of about 120 kmph on this new expressway too.

According to sources, two alignments were proposed to make this expressway. Out of this, only the alignment which provides connectivity to more cities including shorter distances has been approved. At present, the local administration has sought claims and objections for land acquisition in the villages passing through three districts of Bihar. The land acquisition process is likely to be resolved soon after the rains. Preparations related to this are being made at the level of district administration.