Good news for Uttar Pradesh people, as the state is set to get its longest expressway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has formally begun the land collection process across 17 districts of the state, indicating the start of ground-level work on the prestigious Shamli–Gorakhpur corridor. Read on to know more about the development.
NHAI Begins Shamli–Gorakhpur Corridor Work
As per a report by The Times of India, the 742-km open-air access-controlled expressway, estimated at around ₹40,000 crore, is planned as a key west-to-east speed corridor that will substantially reduce travel time and distance between the northern states and the northeastern parts of the country.
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Gautam Vishal, NHAI’s regional officer for UP West, informed the portal that the Detailed Project Report has been examined to finalise the standard alignment of the expressway. He confirmed the project and said that it would also pass via Haridwar in the nearby Uttarakhand for a while. The highway would extend between the Haryana border and the Bihar border, providing an option to the travellers to take the four-lane highway instead of other routes.
What To Expect From The Expressway?
According to reports, the 742-km expressway will pass through 18 districts, including Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Haridwar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, and Shahjahanpur under NHAI’s western regional office. Meanwhile, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, and Kushinagar will fall under the eastern regional office.
While NHAI west will manage the 348-km western route, NHAI east will commission the remaining 394 km. Both regional offices will need to cooperate closely to finish the project. The main highway will be four lanes wide, while roads, including flyovers, railway overpasses and major bridges on water bodies, will be built to six-lane requirements. Exit ramps will be provided along the route to connect key towns and destinations.
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Furthermore, NHAI is also planning an expressway to connect eastern UP with Siliguri in West Bengal via Bihar. The planned route of the Shamli–Gorakhpur corridor will also run close to the Indo-Nepal border, wherever feasible, to draw cross-border traffic bound to and from Nepal.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
First Published: May 14, 2026 6:04 PM
FAQs
What is the Shamli Gorakhpur corridor?
The 594 km long, six-lane expressway is set to be built at a cost of over ₹36,200 crore.
What is the budget of Gorakhpur Shamli Expressway?
The proposed 750-km, six-lane [Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway] is estimated to cost approximately ₹35,000 crore.
What is the new highway project in Gorakhpur?
The 91.352 km Gorakhpur Link Expressway (4-lane, expandable to 6) is nearing completion in Uttar Pradesh to connect Gorakhpur with the Purvanchal Expressway, with major development by UPEIDA and contractors APCO and Dilip Buildcon.