The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of the Kanpur-Kabrai Greenfield Expressway, a major infrastructure project expected to significantly improve connectivity between Kanpur and the Bundelkhand region.
With an estimated cost of Rs 7145.14 crore, the four-lane access-controlled expressway will also strengthen road links between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Once completed, the 117.7-km expressway will reduce travel time between Kanpur and Kabrai from the current four to four-and-a-half hours to around 90 minutes.
Route and key features
The expressway will begin at Magrasa on the Kanpur Ring Road and terminate at Kabrai on the Banda-Rae Bareli route. Initially, it will be developed as a four-lane access-controlled highway, with provisions to expand it to six lanes in the future as traffic increases.
The project will include eight interchanges and will form a key part of the Kanpur-Bhopal Economic Corridor.
Districts covered by the expressway
The new expressway will pass through five districts:
- Kanpur Nagar
- Fatehpur
- Hamirpur
- Mahoba
- Kabrai
It will also provide direct connectivity to the Pukhrayan-Ghatampur-Bindki route, Hamirpur-Kalpi Road, Hamirpur-Rath Road and the Bundelkhand Expressway.
Land acquisition and benefits
Around 1139 hectares of land across nearly 94 villages in four districts will be acquired for the project. According to official estimates, the expressway will directly benefit 93 villages, including 49 in Kanpur, 35 in Hamirpur and nine in Mahoba, bringing better connectivity and development opportunities to areas that have remained relatively underdeveloped.
Authorities have also said that environmental clearances and safeguards will be taken into account during construction.
Boost to regional connectivity and economy
The expressway is expected to enhance connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, particularly across the Bundelkhand region. Under the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, it will connect 16 major industrial and economic hubs, including Ruma, Jainpur, Chakeri and Sumerpur, while improving access to Chakeri and Khajuraho airports.
Following the Cabinet's approval, the land acquisition process has been expedited. Construction is expected to take 30 months after work begins, with the expressway likely to become operational by 2028-29.