Lucknow, 29 April (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's longest Ganga Expressway in Hardoi district today, a landmark project spanning 594 km and connecting Meerut to Prayagraj across 12 districts and 519 villages, built at a cost of ₹36,230 crore with land contributions from over 100,000 farmers across more than 18,000 hectares.

Prior to the event, PM Modi conducted a roadshow in Varanasi on the second day of his two-day UP visit, offering prayers at Baba Vishwanath temple before heading to Mallawan in Hardoi for the ribbon-cutting. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed him, stating that this modern infrastructure elevates New India's New Uttar Pradesh, transforming a state once gripped by dynastic politics, casteism, riots, and mafia terror into an investment hub.

Pre-2017, no one envisioned new investments amid such chaos; today, roads blanket the state—thanks to double-engine governance, he said.

CM Yogi praised the expressway for not just shortening distances but accelerating youth empowerment and prosperity, crediting over 100,000 farmers from 12 districts for their land donations. PM Modi promised inaugurations for every foundation he lays—this Ganga Expressway exemplifies that commitment, he added.

The event was attended by UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Union Finance Minister of State and UP BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister Jitin Prasada, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and ministers Suresh Khanna, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, and Asim Arun.

Project Highlights

The 594-km six-lane (expandable to eight) greenfield expressway features a 3-km airstrip in Shahjahanpur for Air Force emergencies, EV charging stations, food plazas and petrol pumps every 50 km, and an Intelligent Traffic Management System.

Foundation laid by PM Modi in December 2021, it slashes travel time, fosters industrial clusters, and integrates with Purvanchal, Agra-Lucknow, Bundelkhand, and Gorakhpur Link expressways.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar