Uttar Pradesh is on track to become the first state in India with the most expressway districts. Currently, five expressways are operational, covering 27 districts, and plans are in place to extend expressway access to 29 more districts. This means that expressways will soon connect 56 districts of UP, with a total of 75 districts expected to benefit in the future. This expansion will significantly speed up travel and make commuting easier across the state.
The Yogi government has announced the construction of two new expressways this year, further establishing UP as the expressway hub of the country. In total, seven new expressways have been approved, with funding arrangements already underway. One of the notable projects, the Ganga Expressway, is expected to be ready in a few months. Once completed, a network of 13 expressways will link various parts of the state to the capital, Lucknow, and the National Capital Region (NCR), including Noida and Delhi.
Travelers will have multiple routes available, starting from Sonbhadra to Noida and Delhi via the Vindhya Expressway, the Ganga Expressway through the Jewar Link Expressway, or the Purvanchal Expressway. All these expressways are part of the Uttar Pradesh Development Authority (UPDA) initiative.
Current Expressways in Uttar Pradesh
– **Yamuna Expressway (165 km)**
Connecting Agra, Mathura, and Aligarh, covering 3 districts.
– **Agra-Lucknow Expressway (302 km)**
Linking Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Kanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, and Lucknow, covering 9 districts.
– **Purvanchal Expressway (340 km)**
Connecting Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau, and Ghazipur, covering 8 districts.
– **Bundelkhand Expressway (296 km)**
Linking Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Jalaun, and Auraiya, covering 5 districts.
– **Gorakhpur Link Expressway (91 km)**
Connecting Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ambedkarnagar, and Santkabir Nagar, covering 2 districts.
Under Construction Expressways
– **Ganga Expressway (594 km)**
Will connect Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj, covering 12 districts.
Upcoming Expressways
1. **Agra-Lucknow Expressway-Purvanchal Link Expressway (60 km)**
Covering 1 district.
2. **Agra-Lucknow Expressway-Ganga Expressway via Farrukhabad Link Expressway (93 km)**
Connecting Etawah, Farrukhabad, and Hardoi across 3 districts.
3. **Chitrakoot Link Expressway (120 km)**
Linking Chitrakoot to Kaushambi and Prayagraj, covering 2 districts.
4. **Jhansi Link Expressway (100 km)**
Connecting Jhansi and Jalaun, covering 2 districts.
5. **Jewar Link Expressway (76 km)**
Connecting Noida, Bulandshahr, and Meerut, covering 3 districts.
6. **Vindhya Expressway (320 km)**
Linking Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Varanasi, Chandauli, and Sonbhadra, covering 5 districts.
7. **Nandhya Purvanchal Link Expressway (100 km)**
Connecting Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Sonbhadra, covering 1 district.
This ambitious project will enhance connectivity and facilitate smoother travel in Uttar Pradesh, making it a significant player in India’s infrastructure development.
