PM Modi Inaugurates 594-km Ganga Expressway in UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-kilometer Ganga Expressway on Wednesday in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, unveiling the state's longest access-controlled highway that links Meerut in the west to Prayagraj in the east.

The six-lane corridor, expandable to eight lanes and designed for speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour, spans 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj. Officials estimate it will reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10 to 12 hours to about six hours, easing passenger and freight movement while enhancing regional connectivity.

Developed under a public-private partnership model at a cost of 36,230 crore rupees, the expressway features advanced safety measures including an Intelligent Traffic Management System, CCTV surveillance, emergency call boxes, ambulances and patrolling units. A standout element is a 3.2-kilometer airstrip near Shahjahanpur for emergency Indian Air Force landings. The highway will integrate with other major routes such as the Purvanchal, Agra-Lucknow, Bundelkhand and Gorakhpur Link expressways, forming a broader network.