Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to offer prayers at the Shri Kashi Vishawanath temple in Varanasi on Wednesday morning before heading to Hardoi for the inauguration of the 594-kilometre Ganga Expressway, constructed at a cost of Rs 36,230 crore. The temple visit is scheduled for around 8:30 am, followed by the inauguration event in Hardoi at approximately 11:30 am.
The Ganga Expressway, a 6-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) access-controlled greenfield high-speed corridor, is a significant infrastructure development in India. Stretching across 12 districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Meerut, Bulandshahr, and Prayagraj, the expressway connects Western, Central, and Eastern regions of the state, aiming to reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10-12 hours to about 6 hours.
One of the key features of the Ganga Expressway project is the provision of a 3.5 km-long Emergency Landing Facility in Shahjahanpur district, enhancing national security preparedness. Additionally, the project envisions the development of Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Corridors across 2,635 hectares in the 12 districts along its alignment, aiming to reduce logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and enhance manufacturing competitiveness.
The Ganga Expressway is expected to not only improve transportation but also boost economic growth in Uttar Pradesh by providing better market access for farmers, promoting tourism, creating new economic opportunities, and generating employment. It is part of a broader expressway network in the state, contributing to balanced regional development by expanding high-speed road connectivity from East to West and North to South.
