Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday took stock of the preparations ahead of the proposed inauguration of Purvanchal Expressway by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 16.
The chief minister held a review meeting with officers of the Indian Air Force, district administration, public representatives and executive body at the camp office of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
Later, the chief minister said, “Eastern UP districts have been neglected since independence but now the region is developing under the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway was laid by the prime minister in July 2018 and its construction was completed in a record time despite the 19-month coronavirus pandemic period. A three-and-a-half km airstrip has been built on the expressway and on the inauguration day an air show will also be held there. The work of developing industrial corridors at eight places has been started on Purvanchal Expressway, which is set to become the backbone of the economy of eastern UP.”
On November 16, in the presence of the prime minister, Indian Air Force fighter jets will perform an air show for about 30 minutes. More than 20 fighter jets will land on the airstrip built in the Arvalkiri Karwat area of the expressway. The public would be allowed to witness the amazing feat of fighter jets like Sukhoi, SU 30, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar on this expressway. This is the second airstrip on expressways in the state, where fighter planes can land in case of emergency. A similar airstrip has been built on the Agra- Lucknow Expressway near Unnao.
Constructed at a cost of over Rs 22,000 crore, the 304.82 km six-lane Purvanchal Expressway will pass through nine districts including Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur. It will also be connected with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and become a vast industrial corridor connecting the eastern boundary to the western boundary of UP.