Uttar Pradesh, often considered to be the “Heartland of India,” has been burdened for years by the lack of high-speed highways connecting one end of the state to the other. With the profound urbanization and migration, the need for streamlined transportation between the Western and Eastern parts of the state has become one of the key requirements of the hour. To address this, the government is planning to inaugurate the Ganga Expressway. The expressway will reduce the distance, stretching through the cities, and beyond that, it will also save money and resources.
About The Ganga Expressway
Soon, the Ganga Expressway will provide travelers with a direct link and a fast route from the west to the east of the state. Once operational, the journey from Meerut to Prayagraj will be completed in half the time, and beyond that, the presence of a highly functional road network will bring further prosperity to the state. The Ganga Expressway is a greenfield expressway, meaning it will be built from scratch.
The expressway will be 594 km long, starting from Bijoli village in Meerut district and ending at Judapur Dandu village in Prayagraj district. The entire project has been developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). The Ganga Expressway is expected to be functional by early 2026. After this, the journey from Meerut to Prayagraj, which currently takes about 12 hours, will take just 6 to 7 hours.
Districts that the Ganga Expressway will Cover
The expressway will pass through 518 villages and 12 districts. These include Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, and Amroha in Western Uttar Pradesh, and Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj in Central and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The planned outlay will help rural areas, which have so far lacked adequate road connectivity. Farmers will be able to transport their crops to markets more quickly, and new employment opportunities will arise in villages.
Design and Technical Features of the Ganga Expressway
The expressway will consist of a six-lane highway, which may even be expanded to eight lanes in the future. The maximum speed limit on the expressway will be 120 km/h, meaning people will soon be able to zip through the entirety of Uttar Pradesh with ease. The project is based on the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model. This means that the responsibility for design, construction, financing, operation, and subsequent transfer will lie with a single entity.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18, 2021.
Here’s Why It’s Special
The presence of these features will help the highway stand out amongst others:
- The expressway will have 15 ramp toll plazas, ensuring easy entry and exit from the highway network.
- There will be nine service centres for the convenience of travelers.
- Two main toll plazas will be located on the Ganga Expressway.
- The highway will be equipped with food stalls, restrooms, and rest areas.
- A 960-meter-long bridge will be built over the Ganga River to aid in connectivity.
- The expressway will also feature eight overbridges.
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