The Uttar Pradesh Government has intensified preparations for construction of the 594-km Meerut-Prayagraj Ganga Expressway.
About 6,966 hectare land (more than 94 per cent) required for the expressway has been purchased/acquired. The Central government gave environmental clearance for the expressway on July 13. More than 56 per cent of the C&G (Clearing and Grubbing) work has also been completed so far.
Ganga Expressway is a dream project of the Yogi Adityanath government after Bundelkhand Expressway, which has already been opened for traffic. About 518 villages will be covered with the construction of the Ganga expressway. The expressway will connect Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj districts. It will be the sixth and the longest expressway in the state.A 3.5-km-long runway is also to be developed on the expressway at Shahjahanpur for landing/take-off of Indian Air Force fighter jets in case of emergency.
Furthermore, nine public convenience centres, seven railway over bridges, 14 major bridges, 126 minor bridges and 381 underpasses will be built for the convenience of people. An interchange facility will also be provided at 17 places for entry and exit. A service road will be built for the residents of the villages around the project.
The UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority has been authorised by the government to build dedicated industrial parks on both sides of this expressway (Meerut, Hapur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Hardoi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Prayagraj). The selection of the agency for carrying out the development of industrial parks is underway. Once built, the expressway will save people's time, fuel while helping control environmental pollution.The expressway will boost agricultural and industrial income and development. It will act as a catalyst for establishment of food processing units, warehouses and mandis.