Hardoi (UP), Apr 29 (PTI) Residents of districts along the Ganga Expressway expressed optimism after the inauguration of the six-lane project on Wednesday, saying that it would sharply cut travel time, improve market access and create jobs, even as the Uttar Pradesh government highlighted its wider economic and connectivity benefits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway from Hardoi, connecting 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Pankaj Shukla, present at the inauguration venue, said the expressway — positioned as an expressway-cum-industrial corridor — will reduce travel time and give fresh momentum to the state’s economy.
Another local, Sanjay Singh, said the distance between Hardoi and Meerut can now be covered in just a few hours. “Travel from Hardoi to Delhi will become much easier and safer,” he added.
Anuradha Mishra, a principal of an inter-college, described the inauguration from Mallawan town in Hardoi, often referred to as ‘Chhoti Kashi’, as a matter of pride for the region.
Vinod Singh Rajawat from Unnao was hopeful that industries could come up across all 12 districts along the route, saying that it could generate employment for youth.
Nitin Gupta from Madhavganj said reaching Prayagraj for a dip at the Sangam would now take only a few hours, while Dharmendra Kumar Singh said improved connectivity would attract investments.
Santosh Kumar Shukla from Mallawan town said farmers would gain access to new markets due to faster transport, adding that they had received fair compensation for land.
Another resident, Saurabh Srivastava, said the expressway would ensure all-around development of the region.
According to a Uttar Pradesh government statement, the greenfield project — one of the state’s largest infrastructure initiatives — was completed in less than 3.5 years. It connects Meerut in western UP to Prayagraj in the east, and is expected to reduce travel time from around 11 hours to about six hours.
The government said the expressway, passing through 12 districts, will benefit over eight crore people by improving market access, healthcare, education and tourism hubs, while boosting industrial and agricultural growth.
It said the project will generate around three lakh jobs over the next decade, contribute over Rs 1 lakh crore to the state’s GDP and lead to annual logistics savings of Rs 25,000 crore- Rs 30,000 crore.
The corridor will also enhance the movement of agricultural produce and other goods, helping farmers and small businesses secure better prices and strengthening trade flows, the statement said.
Highlighting regional impact, the government said the expressway is expected to unlock the economic potential of eastern Uttar Pradesh, which has remained relatively underdeveloped despite its population and resources.
For safety, AI-enabled camera systems have been installed along the route to provide advanced alerts and help prevent accidents, it added.
A 3.5-km emergency landing facility has also been developed in Shahjahanpur district for Indian Air Force aircraft landing during emergencies, enhancing the corridor’s strategic capabilities.
The government further said that about 464 km (80 per cent) of the expressway was developed by Adani Road Transport Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, and the remaining stretch was constructed by the IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd.
More than 12,000 workers were engaged during the construction phase, the statement said.
The six-lane expressway, which can be expanded to eight lanes in the future, is also expected to improve connectivity to key religious destinations such as Prayagraj and Varanasi, boosting tourism, officials added. PTI COR ABN KIS KSI KSI
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