The Ganga Expressway, an ambitious project of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is on track to become the second-longest expressway in the country, official sources said here on Monday.
Sources said that scheduled for completion by December, the expressway aims to enhance connectivity between eastern and western Uttar Pradesh and facilitate the grand Mahakumbh 2025, which will see millions of devotees and tourists worldwide visiting the festival.
Construction of the expressway, which marks a significant leap in UP’s infrastructure development, is progressing rapidly given CM Yogi’s intent to complete it before Mahakumbh 2025.
This 594 km-long expressway, stretching from Bijauli in Meerut to Judapur Dandu in Prayagraj, will significantly cut both the distance and travel time between western and eastern UP. The Ganga Expressway, currently under construction for Rs 36,230 crore, will span 12 districts of UP.
Covering approximately 7,453.15 hectares, the expressway will traverse 518 villages. Initially designed as a six-lane expressway, it will be expanded to eight lanes, with a right-of-way width of 120 meters, enabling a design speed of 120 KM per hour.
The construction of the expressway is divided into four segments. Messrs IRB Infrastructure is building the Meerut-Badaun section (129.70 km). The remaining three segments, Badaun-Hardoi (151.70 km), Hardoi-Unnao (155.70 km), and Unnao-Prayagraj (156.85 km), are being constructed by Messrs Adani Infrastructure.
The target for completing the main carriageway of the Ganga Expressway is set for December 31, with the remaining works slated for completion by November next year. As of June 2024, soil work on the main carriageway has reached over 82 percent completion across all four sections, averaging 3.85 lakh cubic meters per day.
The complexity of the Ganga Expressway project is evident, with significant engineering feats such as a 960-meter-long bridge over the Ganga River between Meerut and Badaun, and a 720-meter-long bridge over the Ramganga River between Badaun and Hardoi, both of which are currently under construction.
The Ganga Expressway will feature 14 major bridges, 7 rail overbridges (ROBs), and 32 flyovers. Additionally, it will include a 3.5-KM Airstrip near Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur, capable of accommodating large Boeing Aircraft in emergencies.
The expressway will also have two main toll plazas located in Meerut and Prayagraj, along with 15 ramp toll plazas at various points along the route. Furthermore, nine public facilities complexes will be established to serve travellers.
