Work on different sections of Purvanchal Expressway is progressing at a fast pace and it is expected to be completed within the stipulated time so that the greenfield expressway is opened for public by the end of 2020.

UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) Chief Executive Officer Awanish Awasthi told this reporter on Sunday that so far 20 per cent of the work had been completed and they would make the main expressway operational by the end of 2020.

He said the UP government was laying a network of new expressways in the entire state to make transport easier and comfortable for the citizens.

Among the expressways, the most prestigious project of the Yogi Adityanath government is the Purvanchal Expressway. Other important upcoming highway projects of the government include Bundelkhand Expressway, Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Ganga Expressway, Ballia Link Expressway, Defence Industrial Corridor and Semi High Speed Rail Corridor.

Purvanchal Expressway is a six-lane expressway with a total length of 340.824 km. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 22,496.93 crore.

“Earlier, the approximate cost of the civil works of the project was Rs 11,836.02 crore. But now, contracts for eight packages of the project have been formed by obtaining tender of Rs 11,216 crore through which government has been able to save around Rs 620 crore,” Awasthi said.

Out of 832 structures, which include culverts and underpasses on the main carriageway, around 200 structures have been completed and 402 structures are under construction.  Under the project, seven rail over bridges (ROBs) are to be constructed and permission is being sought from the Railways.

“Besides this, construction of seven bridges on major rivers has already started,” the UPEIDA CEO said.