Pakki Kuti is one of the largest mounds found in Mahet area of Shravasti. It has been identified as remains of stupa of Angulimala as referred by famous Chinese traveller Fa-hien & Hiuen Tsang & also by Cunningham while some other scholars relate it to the ruins of ‘Hall of Law’, supposed to have been built by Prasenjit in honour of Lord Buddha.
NH-927 Project to Boost Access to Shravasti
Cabinet Clears ₹6,969 Crore Highway in Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi: In a move aimed at enhancing access to one of Buddhism’s most revered destinations, the Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a four-lane, access-controlled Barabanki–Bahraich section of National Highway 927, a 101.51-kilometre corridor expected to strengthen connectivity to Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh and support tourism-led economic growth in eastern parts of the state.
Shravasti holds immense spiritual and historical significance in the Buddhist world and is believed to be among the places where Lord Buddha spent several monsoon seasons and delivered many of his teachings. The district continues to attract scholars, spiritual seekers and international visitors interested in India’s rich Buddhist heritage, though longstanding connectivity constraints have limited its full tourism potential.
Officials said the project is expected to “significantly improve travel access to Shravasti district and unlock new opportunities for tourism-driven economic growth across eastern Uttar Pradesh,” positioning the corridor as a key intervention in addressing these challenges.
The highway, to be developed at a total capital cost of ₹6,969.04 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), is designed as an access-controlled facility to ensure faster, safer and more efficient travel. By regulating entry and exit points, the corridor is expected to enhance safety and streamline traffic movement while substantially improving travel efficiency in the region.
Once completed, the project will increase average vehicle speeds from around 40 kmph to 80 kmph and reduce travel time between Barabanki and Bahraich by nearly 50%, from approximately 150 minutes to about 75 minutes, marking a significant improvement in regional mobility.
Improved connectivity is expected to play a transformative role in boosting both domestic and international Buddhist tourism to Shravasti. Countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan and Myanmar share deep spiritual connections with Buddhist heritage sites in India, and better road access is likely to encourage a higher influx of pilgrims and visitors from these nations, while also making travel more convenient for scholars and spiritual seekers.
The project is also expected to create a more seamless and reliable travel ecosystem by strengthening multi-modal connectivity across the region. The corridor will link major national highways, including NH-27, NH-330B and NH-730, along with state highways SH-13 and SH-30B, integrating road transport with other key infrastructure networks.
It will connect important transport nodes such as airports at Lucknow and Shravasti, railway stations at Barabanki, Rasauli, Jangirabad, Rafinagar, Bindaura, Burhwal, Chowkaghat, Ghaghraghat, Jarwal and Bahraich, as well as the Rupaidiha land port, facilitating smoother movement of both passengers and goods.
The highway will pass through major towns, including Barabanki, Ramnagar, Jarwal, Kaisarganj, Fakharpur and Bahraich, while linking three economic nodes, including special economic zones and mega food parks, two social nodes in aspirational districts, and 12 logistics nodes, thereby supporting broader regional development objectives.
Authorities indicated that the improved road infrastructure will help reduce congestion, enhance travel comfort and safety, and enable more efficient movement across the corridor, contributing to overall transport efficiency.
The project is also expected to generate substantial employment during its development phase, with an estimated 36.54 lakh person-days of direct employment and an additional 43.04 lakh person-days of indirect employment, providing a boost to local livelihoods.
– global bihari bureau
