Varanasi: UP minister of state (independent charge) for registration, stamp and court fees, Ravindra Jaiswal said on Friday that officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should ensure that people are not unnecessarily affected by the construction of the proposed elevated road project in Varanasi.The project, estimated to cost around ₹25,000 crore, is aimed at strengthening the city’s traffic system. Jaiswal said special attention must be given to the interests of local residents while finalising the project design and constructing ramps.The minister held a meeting on Thursday with divisional commissioner S Rajalingam, district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, NHAI officials and local councillors. During the meeting, NHAI officials made a digital presentation on the proposed route and various aspects of the project.According to officials, the elevated road will start from Kazisarai and pass over the Harhua flyover and Ring Road, continuing through the Cantt area, Phulwaria and other locations before moving towards Namo ghat. Ramps have been proposed at different points along the route.The proposed ramp at Hukulganj was discussed in detail during the meeting. Jaiswal said that if constructing a ramp at Hukulganj affects a large number of local residents, alternative options should be seriously considered. He directed officials to examine the possibility of placing the ramp near the Ayurvedic College instead of Hukulganj.The minister said that the objective of development projects is to improve public convenience. Therefore, the elevated road should be designed in a way that improves traffic flow while minimising the impact on local citizens.NHAI officials said that the main challenges in the project are related to the locations of ramps. Keeping this in mind, alternative ramp locations and designs are being considered according to local conditions.The elevated road project is being seen as an important initiative to transform Varanasi’s traffic system. Once completed, it is expected to make travel between major parts of the city easier and reduce traffic congestion.
