New Highway Project Set to Improve Access to Shravasti’s Buddhist Heritage Sites
The Government of India has approved the construction of a four‑lane, access‑controlled highway in Uttar Pradesh aimed at improving connectivity to Shravasti, one of the most significant sites in the Buddhist world. The 101.51 km Barabanki–Bahraich section of National Highway 927 is expected to shorten travel times, strengthen regional transport links and support tourism-driven economic activity. Details of the decision were outlined in an official announcement from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published on the Press Information Bureau.
Shravasti holds major historical and spiritual importance in Buddhism. It is widely believed to be one of the places where Gautama Buddha spent several monsoon seasons and delivered many teachings. The site attracts scholars, pilgrims and international visitors interested in India’s Buddhist heritage, yet access to the district has long been constrained by limited transport connectivity.
Improving access to a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination
The approved highway aims to address longstanding accessibility challenges. Once completed, the Barabanki–Bahraich corridor will provide faster and safer road travel across eastern Uttar Pradesh while strengthening connections with the Shravasti region.
The project has been designed as an access‑controlled highway, enabling vehicles to travel at higher average speeds. Current average speeds of about 40 km per hour are expected to increase to roughly 80 km per hour. Travel time between Barabanki and Bahraich could fall from around 150 minutes to approximately 75 minutes, significantly improving the overall travel experience.
Project scope and transport integration
The new section of National Highway 927 will extend 101.51 kilometres and will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model with a total capital cost of INR 6,969.04 crore. The route will link key urban centres including Barabanki, Ramnagar, Jarwal, Kaiserganj, Fakharpur and Bahraich.
The corridor will also strengthen integration with other national highways such as NH‑27, NH‑330B and NH‑730, as well as state highways including SH‑13 and SH‑30B. In addition, the route will connect with major transport nodes including Lucknow and Shravasti airports, multiple railway stations across the region, and the Rupaidiha land port on the India–Nepal border.
Officials expect the project to support broader logistics and mobility improvements by linking three economic nodes, including a Special Economic Zone and a mega food park, along with 12 logistics nodes and two social development nodes located in aspirational districts. These types of integrated transport networks increasingly underpin national initiatives to modernise freight movement and trade infrastructure, similar to efforts highlighted in India’s work to develop smart logistics and data‑driven trade corridors.
Potential boost for Buddhist tourism and regional economies
Improved access to Shravasti is expected to strengthen religious tourism, particularly from countries with longstanding Buddhist connections to India. Pilgrims and visitors from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan and Myanmar regularly travel to sites associated with the life of the Buddha, and improved road connectivity could make journeys to Shravasti more practical and predictable.
Beyond tourism, the highway may also generate economic benefits for surrounding communities by supporting hospitality, transport and local service industries. The government estimates the project will create approximately 3.654 million person‑days of direct employment and about 4.304 million person‑days of indirect employment during construction.
The investment forms part of a wider effort to expand national connectivity infrastructure, complementing initiatives such as expanding digital and satellite-enabled communications discussed in India’s next‑generation connectivity strategy. Together, these developments aim to improve how people, goods and services move across the country.
