The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a substantial infrastructure project: a new greenfield expressway designed to link the Agra-Lucknow and Purvanchal Expressways. The six-lane expressway, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,776 crore, is intended to improve regional connectivity and reduce travel times.
The planned expressway will provide a direct route from Ballia to Delhi, shortening the distance between the two cities to approximately 900 kilometers. The project gained approval during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The new expressway will become an integral part of Uttar Pradesh’s expanding expressway network, integrating with existing and planned corridors such as the Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal, Ganga (under construction), Bundelkhand, and Gorakhpur Link Expressways. This will improve travel between key cities including Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ghazipur.
The project is also projected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities. Spanning a total length of 49.96 km, the expressway will initially feature six lanes, with the potential for future expansion to eight lanes. The construction will be undertaken using the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model.
The goal is to enhance transportation infrastructure across the state, improve logistical efficiency, and stimulate regional growth.
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway, a key component of this network, spans 302.22 km and was constructed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). It was inaugurated on November 21, 2016, and is recognized as one of India’s longest expressways.
The Purvanchal Expressway, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 16, 2021, plays a crucial role in connecting eastern Uttar Pradesh to Lucknow, streamlining travel in the region.