Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 594-kilometre-long Ganga Expressway, a major infrastructure project designed to connect Meerut to Prayagraj.
The high-speed corridor is expected to significantly improve connectivity across Uttar Pradesh while acting as a catalyst for economic growth, industrial expansion, and agricultural development.
Spanning 12 districts-including Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Pratapgarh-the expressway is set to reduce travel time and ensure faster, more efficient movement of goods and passengers. Speaking at the inauguration event in Hardoi, the Prime Minister described the project as a transformative milestone, comparing its importance to the historic role of the Ganga River in sustaining the region.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hailed the project as a "lifeline" for the state, highlighting its potential to connect rural areas with urban centres, empower farmers, and create new opportunities for businesses and youth.
Developed under a public-private partnership model, the expressway has been built as a six-lane highway, expandable to eight lanes, with a design speed of up to 120 kmph. It includes advanced safety and monitoring features such as an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), CCTV surveillance, emergency call boxes, ambulances, and patrol units.
A notable strategic addition is a 3.2-kilometre airstrip near Shahjahanpur, which can be used by the Indian Air Force for emergency operations. The project also integrates multiple manufacturing and logistics clusters along its route, featuring warehouses, cold storage units, and food processing facilities aimed at boosting investment and job creation.
Officials noted that the expressway will link with other major corridors like the Purvanchal, Agra-Lucknow, Bundelkhand, and Gorakhpur Link expressways, forming a vast and efficient road network. This integrated infrastructure is expected to strengthen supply chains, improve market access for agricultural produce, and contribute significantly to the state's ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also toured an exhibition by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority and participated in plantation activities, marking the occasion as a key step in the state's development journey.