Despite corona curfew, the work on Purvanchal Expressway continues and it is likely to be thrown open to commuters by the end of June. The access-controlled road network is being developed by UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), an agency set up by the state government to steer its expressway expansion programme.
Chief Executive Officer of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) Awanish Awasthi said that the second wave of corona did impact the progress, but not so muchto delay the launch of the Greenfield Expressway.
“Initially, there was an impact of 40 per cent due to the surge of corona cases. But over the last fortnight, work is going on almost at full steam. The labourers who had gone away fearing infection spread have returned to work. Construction of only four structures, mainly ROBs, are to be completed. In the last two days, the heavy downpour in various regions also affected the pace of the work. Instructions have been issued to officials to resolve any problem in the construction work there and then. The earth work of Purvanchal Expressway is complete while the complete project is 85-90 per cent complete. We are confident that the expressway will be thrown open to public by June-end,” Awasthi said in Lucknow on Friday.
The 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway, along with 294-km Bundelkhand Expressway and 91-km Gorakhpur link, is set to transform Uttar Pradesh and connect the western part of the state to the eastern region.
These expressways interlinked with Yamuna Expressway and Agra-Lucknow Expressway will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Ghazipur to just 12 hours. It currently takes more than 20 hours.
Starting from Chand Sarai village on Lucknow-Sultanpur road, Purvanchal Expressway will pass through Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkarnagar and Mau, before terminating at Hyderia village of Ghazipur.
Media advisor, UPEIDA, Durgesh Upadhya said, “About 89 per cent of road work and 95 per cent of the construction of small bridges and underpassees were complete. Work of major bridges, ROBs and flyovers is going on at a rapid pace and over 91 per cent work is over.