Varanasi Metro: Project Information, Routes, Fares and other Details

Varanasi is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.The city has a syncretic tradition of Muslim artisanship that underpins its tourism.The Varanasi Metro is a light rail transit system proposed for the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The proposed system consists of 2 corridors that span from BHEL (Tarna, Shivpur) to Banaras Hindu University (19.35 km) and Benia Bagh to Sarnath (9.885 km). The feasibility study of the project was done by RITES and was completed in June 2015.

Project Summary

• Project Name: Varanasi Metro Rail Project
• Owner: Govt. of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh
• Executing Body: Varanasi Development Authority
• Project Type: Light Rail Transit System (LRTS)
• Project Cost: INR 17,227 Crores
• Total System Length: 29.23 km
• No. of Phases: 1 (2 Lines)
• External Funding Agency: NA
• Completion Target: NA
• Status: Under Consideration

Operational Routes

NA

Fares 

Not yet decided as project in now under construction.

Route Map

NA

Project Information

Line 1:  BHEL –  Benaras Hindu University (BHU)

• Route Length: 19.35 km (Elevated: 3.845 km, Underground: 15.505 km)
• Stations: 17 (Elevated-4, Underground-13)
• Station Names: BHEL, Tarna, Shivpur, Sangam Colony, Gilat Bazar, Bhojubeer, Collectorate, Nadesar, Varanasi Junction, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Rathyatra, Benia Bagh, Kashi Vishvanath, Bangali Tola, Ratnakar Park, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Benaras Hindu University (BHU).
• Depot: TBD

Line 2: Benia Bagh – Sarnath

• Route Length: 9.885 km (Elevated: 1.923 km, Underground: 7.962 km)
• Stations: 9 (Elevated-2, Underground-7)
• Station Names: Benia Bagh, Kotwali, Machoori Park, Kashi Bus Depot, Jalalipura, Punchikrshi, Abapur, Havelia and Sarnath.
• Depot: TBD

Project Cost & Funding:

Deadline: NA

Technical Information

• Design Speed: NA
• Average Speed: NA
• Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1435 mm
• Electrification: 25kV, 50Hz (OHE/OCS)
• Signalling System: CBTC  
• Rolling stock: NA

Major Contractors 

NA

Progress So Far

• May 2016: Detailed Project Report approved.
• September 2017: Detailed Project Report (DPR) dropped due new metro rail policy. New DPR to be created by RITES.
• August 2020: Metro rail found infeasible; light metro proposed.
• September 2020: Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be reviewed for metro rail.