Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-kilometre-long Ganga Expressway, a major road project connecting western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, in Hardoi on Wednesday.
The 6-lane, access-controlled greenfield high-speed corridor would be constructed at an estimated cost of around ₹36,230 crore. It passes through 12 districts: Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj.
The expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10–12 hours to approximately 6 hours.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi. This transformative infrastructure project will boost connectivity and drive progress across Uttar Pradesh. https://t.co/UoFCdwSRmO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2026
A notable feature of the project is the 3.5 km-long airstrip in Shahjahanpur district, which could enhance India's security preparedness and add strategic value to the corridor.
The airstrip will be the first in the country to facilitate both day and night landings of fighter jets. The airstrips on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways are limited to daytime operations.
Envisioned as a major economic corridor, the expressway is projected to lower logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost manufacturing competitiveness.
#WATCH | Meerut | Visuals of the Ganga Expressway which will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi tomorrow.
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2026
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… pic.twitter.com/vauA0vJXXk
According to a PMO release, the 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 both direct and indirect employment across the region.
“The Ganga Expressway will 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,” the statement added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on X, said the state’s development journey would gain fresh momentum with the inauguration of the Ganga Expressway.
He described the six-lane corridor as a “lifeline” connecting villages, farmers, entrepreneurs, and youth, adding that it would play a key role in accelerating development and bridging distances.
