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Varanasi Kolkata Expressway: Route Details, Length, Speed Limit, Connectivity, Toll Fee and FAQ
Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata Expressway (NH-319B) is a planned six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway. It will link Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kolkata in West Bengal via Ranchi in Jharkhand, running broadly parallel to the Grand Trunk Road. NHAI is building it under the Bharatmala programme. The headline benefit is travel time falling from 12–14 hours to about 6–7 hours, and distance from about 690 km to about 610 km.
Varanasi Kolkata Expressway – Detailed Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Varanasi–Kolkata (Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata) Expressway, NH-319B |
| Authority | NHAI |
| Length | About 610 km (see note below) |
| Lanes | Six-lane, access-controlled |
| Start | Varanasi Ring Road at NH-19, near Barhuli village, Chandauli district, UP |
| End | NH-16 near Uluberia, Howrah district, West Bengal |
| States | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal |
| Cost | About ₹35,000 crore (an earlier source said ₹28,500 crore) |
| Status | Under construction |
| Completion | Estimates vary: 2026–27, 2028 and Q4 2029 |
| Speed limit | Not announced |
| Toll | Not announced |
Route details
- The route starts near Varanasi in Chandauli district and passes through Bihar via Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad and Gaya.
- In Jharkhand it goes through Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh and Ranchi. Bokaro and Dhanbad are also listed in some sources.
- In West Bengal it covers Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah.
- Construction began with a 54-km first phase from Varanasi. This included a 27-km stretch to the Chandauli–Chainpur road and another 27 km into Bihar.
Route changes:
- Bihar sent a proposal in 2026 to build a tunnel through the Sasaram hills. An earlier revised design around the hills increased the length by about 15 km, and the tunnel could shorten it again.
- West Bengal has requested a route change, so the exact alignment in parts of the state isn’t final.
Length
Most sources give about 610 km (610.417 km in NHAI-style details). By state it is about 22 km in UP, 159 km in Bihar, 187 km in Jharkhand and 242 km in West Bengal. Wikipedia’s main entry currently gives 710 km with a Haldia terminus, and a recent news brief repeats that. This is a longer version of the plan. For a guide, use 610 km and mention the alternate figure.
Speed limit
No official limit has been published for this expressway. I can’t responsibly give a number. For context:
- India raised the expressway limit to 120 km/h in 2018, but the Madras High Court quashed that notification in 2021.
- The government has since said it plans updated limits.
Connectivity
- NH-19 and Varanasi Ring Road at the western end.
- NH-16 near Uluberia at the eastern end, with access toward Kolkata port.
- Patna to Varanasi via Mohania, and Patna to Ranchi via Gaya, once complete.
- Runs close to the Grand Trunk Road corridor.
Toll fee
No toll has been announced. The packages are on Hybrid Annuity Mode, which means the builder designs, builds and hands over to NHAI, which then collects toll. When rates are notified, NHAI will publish them. Don’t use a per-km estimate from other expressways.
FAQ
Is it open?
No. It is under construction.
When will it be completed?
Sources disagree: 2026–27 on Wikipedia, 2028 in a recent news brief, and Q4 2029 per GlobalData. Treat it as unconfirmed.
How long is it?
About 610 km, though some sources say 710 km.
How much time will it save?
About half: 12–14 hours down to roughly 6–7.
Which states does it cross?
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Why is the route being changed?
Bihar proposed a Sasaram hills tunnel, and West Bengal has requested a revision.
