29 April,2026 01:19 PM IST | Hardoi (UP) | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi while inaugurating the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi. Pic/PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. The project has been developed at an estimated cost of Rs 36,230 crore, reported the ANI.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state BJP president Pankaj Choudhary were also present at the event.
The Ganga Expressway is a 594-kilometre-long, six-lane (expandable to eight lanes) access-controlled greenfield corridor. It passes through 12 districts - Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj - connecting western, central and eastern parts of the state.
The expressway is expected to significantly cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from around 10-12 hours to nearly six hours, improving connectivity and transport efficiency.
A key feature of the project is a 3.5-kilometre-long emergency landing strip in Shahjahanpur district. This dual-use facility is designed to support both civilian and defence needs, enhancing strategic preparedness, according to the PTI.
The expressway is planned as a major economic corridor, with integrated manufacturing and logistics hubs proposed across nearly 2,635 hectares along its route. It is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve supply chains and strengthen industrial competitiveness.
The project aims to provide farmers with better access to urban and export markets, helping improve price realisation and rural incomes. It is also expected to boost tourism and create both direct and indirect employment opportunities.
The Ganga Expressway will act as a backbone for a wider expressway network in Uttar Pradesh. It will link with projects such as the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Jewar Link Expressway, Farrukhabad Link Expressway and a proposed extension from Meerut to Haridwar, enabling seamless connectivity across the state, as per the PTI.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also planted a sapling in Hardoi, marking a symbolic gesture towards environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday lauded farmers for their crucial contribution to the construction of the Ganga Expressway, noting that over one lakh cultivators provided land for the project, enabling its timely completion.
"More than one lakh farmers across 12 districts contributed land for this expressway. I thank all the 'annadata' farmers whose support has made this project a reality," Adityanath said, addressing a gathering ahead of the inauguration ceremony, the PTI reported.
(with ANI and PTI inputs)
