The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to increase the length of the Ganga expressway from both ends. As per plans, chalked out after the Union Budget, the expressway will start from Haridwar, beyond Meerut, and end not at Prayagraj but at Varanasi. This will increase the length of the already the longest proposed expressway in the country by about 150 km.
The Poorvanchal Expressway will also be expanded up to Ballia. The under-construction project was originally to be built from Lucknow to Ghazipur. The CM has asked the department concerned to prepare a detailed proposal for both projects.
The length of the currently proposed Ganga Expressway is 596 kilometres which is to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore.
The expressway will link western UP with the eastern section, connecting cities like Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahar, Amroha, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Sonbhadra and Chandoli.
‘PM wants Kashi to be an export hub’
The expressway that will link western UP with the eastern section, said a government spokesperson, will help in development of industries and tourism in UP. The project will be implemented by UPEIDA. The six-lane expressway is extendable to eight. “PM Narendra Modi wants Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, developed as an export hub. For this, and with the emphasis on road infrastructure in the budget, it has been decided to expand the Ganga Expressway. This would not only enhance eastern UP’s connectivity with New Delhi but also with other parts of the country,” he said.
