4 Rail Lines, 6-Lane Highway: New Corridor to Replace 137-Year-Old Malviya Bridge in Varanasi

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s leadership, has approved the construction of a new bridge on the River Ganga to replace the 137-year-old Malviya Bridge. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new bridge would have four railway lines on the lower deck and a six-lane highway on the upper deck. The project will cost Rs 2,642 crore and will be one of the biggest bridges in the world in terms of transport and traffic capacity. It also aims to improve connectivity between eastern and western India.

"Malviya Bridge is 137-year-old...Now, it has been decided to build a new bridge that will have 4 railway lines on the lower deck and a 6-lane highway on the upper deck...This will be counted among the biggest bridges in the world in terms of traffic capacity...This will be built at an expense of Rs 2,642 Crores," said Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Additionally, the cabinet has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) by 3 percentage points effective from July 1 this year, benefitting more than 1 crore employees and pensioners ahead of the Diwali festival. This increase will add Rs 9,448 crore annually to the paychecks of employees and pensioners.

The Union Cabinet has approved to increase Dearness Allowance (DA) to central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners by three percentage points of the basic pay/pension ahead of Diwali, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the Cabinet meeting.

The minister also offered Diwali greetings to all central government employees and pensioners.

The DA/DR hike will be effected from July 1, 2024, the minister informed.

He also informed that the financial implication of this DA/DR hike is Rs 9,448 crore.

The government also approved higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six Rabi crops for the 2025-26 season. Wheat MSP has been raised from Rs 2,275 to Rs 2,425, barley from Rs 1,850 to Rs 1,980, and mustard from Rs 5,650 to Rs 5,950, among others. 

Here's the MSP for 6 crops in Rabi marketing season for 2025-26

Wheat - Rs 2425 from Rs 2275 
Barley - Rs 1980 from Rs 1850 
Gram - Rs 5650 from Rs 5440 
Lentil - Rs 6700 from 6425 
Rapeseed/Mustard - Rs 5950 from Rs 5650 
Safflower - Rs 5940 from Rs 5800

These increases will help farmers earn more and ensure prices are at least 50% higher than their production costs.