$4b, 600km, 6 lanes: Modi opens Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh
- Last updated: April 29, 2026 | 13:05
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Ganga Expressway during a public event in Hardoi and said that in this era of modern progress, this project passing in the vicinity of Maa Ganga will become a "new lifeline" for the development of Uttar Pradesh.
The inauguration of this project, built for Rs 36,230 crore, will mark a significant milestone in the development of world-class infrastructure in the country.
The Ganga Expressway is a 594-kilometre-long, 6-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) access-controlled greenfield high-speed corridor, built at a total cost of around Rs 36,230 crore, according to an official statement. The expressway traverses 12 districts – Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj – thereby connecting Western, Central, and Eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh through a single seamless high-speed corridor.
Addressing a massive public gathering after inaugurating the Ganga Expressway, PM Modi said, "I bow down to this holy land of Lord Narsingh. Just a short distance away, Maa Ganga flows, showering her blessings, which is why this entire region is no less than a pilgrimage. I believe that the boon of expressways to UP is also due to Maa Ganga's blessings. Now, you can reach Sangam in just hours and also seek blessings from Baba in Kashi. The way Maa Ganga has been a lifeline of UP and this country, the same way, in this era of modern progress, this expressway passing in the vicinity of Maa Ganga will become a new lifeline for the development of UP," he said.
The Prime Minister said that it is a "remarkable coincidence" that, over the past few days, he has remained in the very presence of Maa Ganga, citing his visits to West Bengal for election campaigning and to Varanasi on Tuesday.
"And now, I have been granted the opportunity to dedicate this expressway -- named after Maa Ganga -- to the nation. I am delighted that the Uttar Pradesh government has chosen to name this expressway after Maa Ganga. This initiative not only reflects our vision for development but also offers a glimpse of our rich heritage," he said, congratulating the people on the expressway.
The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from the current 10-12 hours to approximately 6 hours, enhancing ease of movement and transportation efficiency, said the statement.
A key highlight of the project is the provision of a 3.5 km-long Emergency Landing Facility (airstrip) in Shahjahanpur district. This dual-use infrastructure enhances national security preparedness and adds strategic value beyond economic benefits, it said.
The Ganga Expressway is envisioned as a major economic corridor, with the development of Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Corridors over approximately 2,635 hectares across the 12 districts along its alignment. The expressway will reduce logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost manufacturing competitiveness, the statement said. Improved connectivity will provide farmers with direct access to urban and export markets, facilitating better price realisation and strengthening rural incomes.
The project is also expected to boost tourism, unlock new economic opportunities, and generate direct and indirect employment across the region, the statement said.
The Ganga Expressway will also serve as a backbone for a broader expressway network in the state, with several link corridors either operational or planned, including the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Jewar Link Expressway, Farrukhabad Link Expressway, and the proposed extension from Meerut to Haridwar. This emerging expressway grid will expand high-speed road connectivity across Uttar Pradesh from East to West and from North to South, enabling balanced regional development.
The Ganga Expressway is not merely a transportation project but a transformative initiative that will reduce logistics costs, attract industrial investment, boost agricultural and rural incomes, generate employment, and drive holistic economic growth across the state, the statement said.
Indo-Asian News Service