VARANASI, July 16 -- Two elevated greenfield corridors, the Ganga Elevated Corridor and the Varuna Elevated Corridor approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, are expected to reduce traffic congestion on Varanasi's existing road network by up to 40 per cent while significantly cutting air and noise pollution, Varanasi divisional commissioner S Rajalingam said at a press conference. Rajalingam said the Varuna Elevated Corridor is expected to be completed in about three years, while the Ganga Elevated Corridor will take around five years. Both projects have been designed to ensure that existing heritage structures and other important buildings remain unaffected, added Rajalingam. The 43.218-kilometre-long elevated Varuna corridor along the banks of the Varuna River will be 6/4 lanes and is expected to cost Rs 10,998 crore. This project will connect NH-31 to the Kashi Railway station and Varanasi Ring Road. The 46.039-km Ganga elevated corridor, comprising a six-lane elevated carriageway, an iconic cable-stayed bridge, an extradosed foot over bridge-cum-major bridge, loops, ramps, link roads and service roads, will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at a total capital cost of Rs 14,447.64 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity between NH-19 and the Varanasi Ring Road, significantly easing traffic and improving urban mobility. HTC...