The Ganga Expressway is a new six-lane greenfield highway construction project in Uttar Pradesh which may be stretched to eight lanes when necessary. Connecting 519 villages in Uttar Pradesh, the project will be 594 kilometres long overall. The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEDIA) predicted the cost of the Ganga Expressway project to be between ₹36,000 and ₹42,000 crores.
Route To Be Covered By The Expressway
The Ganga Expressway will pass through numerous districts, cities, and villages. It will start close to Bijauli Village in Meerut and connect up to Judapur Dandu Village in Prayagraj. 519 villages are listed on the Ganga expressway village list, and 12 districts total are listed on the Ganga expressway district list.
Here’s a list of 12 districts that will be connected:
- Meerut
- Hapur
- Bulandshahr
- Amroha
- Sambhal
- Budaun
- Shahjahanpur
- Hadoi
- Unnao
- Raebareli
- Pratapgarh
- Prayagraj
The motorway route in Phase II will also extend from the Tigri at Garhmukteshwar to the Uttarakhand border close to Haridwar. In future, the expressway will also be expanded to Varanasi, making the travel from Lucknow to Varanasi via Unnao and Prayagraj easier with Ganga Expressway and Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway.
The Current Status Of The Expressway
Ganga Expressway:
🛣️90% clearing & grubbing work done
🛣️20% earthwork doneVisuals of ongoing construction work from Group-1 in Budaun:
1. Construction of Service Road
2. Construction of LVUP
3. Priming work in progress
PC ~ UPEIDA pic.twitter.com/aVhbt91AdL— The Uttar Pradesh Index (@theupindex) April 4, 2023
As per UPEDIA, 90% of the clearing & grubbing and 20% of the earthwork for the construction has been completed. The priming work and construction of service road is currently in progress.
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The Expressway’s Timeline
- Jan 2019: The Ganga Expressway project was revived.
- Feb 2021: ₹2000 crores were allotted for the construction to start after a detailed project report was prepared.
- Mar 2021: The process of land acquisition for the expressway started.
- Dec 2021: The motorway’s foundation was laid by the Prime Minister.
- June 2025: Phase 1 of the expressway is expected to be functional.
Its Impact On Connectivity And Economy
Once functional, the Ganga Motorway would surpass all other motorways in Uttar Pradesh in terms of distance covered. It will link the state’s western and eastern areas and increase connectivity from eastern UP to the national capital. The Purvanchal Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, and Agra Lucknow Expressway will all be connected to it.
The Expressway is also anticipated to boost economic activity along its course, including trade, agriculture, and tourism. The government intends to create Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which are anticipated to direct the growth of commercial real estate in the area. There are also proposals to build food processing facilities, which will boost demand for nearby companies. One the expressway is completed, it will be easier for industrial corridor to connect with production units and development centres.
Distance Covered And Its Effect On Time Travel
Out of the Ganga Expressway’s 594 kilometres under construction, more than 500 kilometres have reportedly been finished. Between Prayagraj and Delhi, the Ganga Expressway is anticipated to cut travel time to 6–7 hours. Currently, travellers reach Prayagraj from Delhi between 10 and 11 hours.
In conclusion, the Ganga Expressway has the potential to significantly increase the connectivity of the whole Ganga River region. While the Ganga motorway would spur development in the corridor’s neighbouring clusters.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva