Why in News?
The Ganga Expressway, one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, is currently in the news as it nears its official inauguration ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections and the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela.
Key Specifications & Route
- Total Length: Approximately 594 km, making it one of the longest expressways in India.
- Start & End Points: Starts at Bijauli village (Meerut) and ends at Judapur Dandu village (Prayagraj).
- Districts Covered: Connects 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj.
- Lane Configuration: Initially 6 lanes (expandable to 8 lanes).
- Design Speed: Engineered for a top speed of 120 kmph.
Major Features
- Air Strip: Includes a 3.5 km emergency landing strip in Shahjahanpur for Indian Air Force fighter jets.
- Environmental Focus: Plans to plant over 18 lakh trees along the route and use fly ash in construction to reduce environmental impact.
- Connectivity: Links Western UP to Eastern UP, effectively connecting the NH-19 (Delhi-Kolkata) and the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
- Public Amenities: Features 9 public convenience centres, 7 fuel stations, and multiple interchanges for local traffic.
Strategic & Economic Impact
- Travel Time Reduction: Expected to cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 12+ hours to about 6.5 hours.
- Agricultural Growth: Will act as a "Greenfield" corridor, allowing farmers from the fertile plains of the Ganga to transport perishable goods to Delhi and NCR markets much faster.
- Employment: Estimated to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs through the planned Industrial Way and food processing parks along the corridor.
- Logistics Hub: Positioned to become a backbone for the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in North India.
Project Overview
- Implementing Agency: Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
- Estimated Cost: Approximately ₹36,230 crore.
- Concessionaires: The project is divided into four groups, with Adani Enterprises and IRB Infrastructure handling the construction.
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