UP Govt Releases Funds For Ganga, Bundelkhand Expressway Projects

Aiming to improve the state’s road infrastructure, the Uttar Pradesh government has given instructions to release funds for the completion of the construction of the Ganga Expressway before Mahakumbh-2025. Additionally, the state government also allocated funds to develop passenger facilities near the Bundelkhand Expressway.

While Rs 100 crore has been allocated for Ganga Expressway, Rs 40 crore has been allocated for the Bundelkhand Expressway. 

It may be recalled that currently as many as seven expressways are operational in the state, while six are under construction. The most important of these are the Ganga Expressway and the Bundelkhand Expressway, which connect many prominent cities. 

Nod has been given to provide Rs 100 crore as an annual grant instalment for the purpose of giving shape to the Ganga Expressway being constructed between Meerut and Prayagraj. The total estimated cost of the Ganga Expressway is Rs 36,230 crore, out of which Rs 4,775 crore has been released for the project so far, with UPEIDA releasing an amount of Rs 100 crore this year in this sequence.

It is worth mentioning that a 594 km long Ganga Expressway is being constructed in the state under the PPP model, with the plan to complete it in four phases as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 December, 2021, at Shahjahanpur. The construction of the expressway is expected to be completed by the year 2024.

The Bundelkhand Expressway has been launched with the objective of facilitating connectivity, transportation and promoting industrial development in Bundelkhand. This expressway would connect Chitrakoot from Agra to Prayagraj. 

The state government has given approval to release an amount of Rs 40 crore as an annual grant instalment for other development projects including passenger facilities here, and has also issued instructions to UPEIDA in this regard. 

It is to be noted that an amount of Rs 6,270 crore has been released so far for this project which costs Rs 14,849 crore. The existing amount will be used for various items, including other construction works, and maintenance during the project.