Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the nodal agency for developing expressways, will acquire about 100 acres of land in the vicinity of Agra-Lucknow, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal expressways for allotment to industries. The agency is moving ahead on the project as per plans of the Uttar Pradesh government to convert expressways into corridors for an array of industries, including manufacturing and food processing.
The state government is likely to incur an expenditure of nearly Rs 4,000 crore on the acquisition of land near the expressway projects, especially at the entry and exit points, for faster transportation of goods and seamless logistics. While four expressways are operational in the state, several other expressway projects, including the 595-km Ganga Expressway costing Rs 36,000 crore, are under construction.
The functional expressway projects include Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway and Bundelkhand Expressway. The state targets to complete the Ganga Expressway project by December 2024 before the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj in early 2025.
Since the Yamuna Expressway serves the comparatively developed and well-connected western UP, the state is focusing on the remaining four expressways to spur industrial growth.
For example, industrial corridors are proposed to be set up in Jalaun and Banda districts along the Bundelkhand Expressway.
“Once industrial units are set up in the proposed corridors flanking the expressways, the interstate and intrastate movement of goods will be faster and economical. This will enhance the competitiveness of industries,” a UP government official said.
Meanwhile, the UPEIDA has been tasked with preparing a blueprint and conducting pre-feasibility study and preparation of a detailed project report. The UPEIDA will create an industrial land bank beyond the proposed 100 acres near each expressway for allotment to industries on demand.
The faster movement of farm and dairy products, apart from processed food, through the expressways will jack up rural incomes and accelerate the rural economy, which is among the top priorities of the government.
Moreover, the state looks to become a major electric vehicle and battery hub in South Asia and develop a robust charging network on highways and expressways. Trade and industry has welcomed the move of the government for industrialisation along the expressways, saying the growing network of expressways and airports in UP has given a much-needed scope to the landlocked state.