Context:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ganga Expressway on April 29, 2026, from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• Total Length: Approximately 594 kilometers
• Longest expressway in Uttar Pradesh
• Cost: Approximately ₹36,230 crore
• Agency: Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority
• Model: Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
• Phase-2 Proposal: Extension from Prayagraj to Ballia and from Meerut to Haridwar
• Lanes: Currently 6-lane (expandable to 8-lane in future)
• Maximum Speed: 120 km/h for vehicles
• Foundation Stone: December 18, 2021 (laid by PM Narendra Modi in Shahjahanpur)

Main Technical Features:

• Airstrip: A special Indian Air Force emergency landing airstrip has been constructed between Shahjahanpur and Hardoi (3.5 km long with night landing facility in Shahjahanpur)
• Eco-friendly: Millions of trees planted on both sides and modern rainwater harvesting system developed
• Safety: Equipped with Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) and CCTV cameras, making it one of the safest expressways in India
• Industrial Nodes: Total 12 industrial nodes planned along the expressway
• Identified Land: 6,507 acres selected for nodes
• Largest Node: Bulandshahr (2,798 acres)
• Proposed Investment: Around ₹47,000 crore with 987 investment proposals received
• Planned Expansion: Future linkage with Haridwar and Farrukhabad link expressways announced

Route & Districts:

• Starting Point: Bijoli village (Meerut)
• Ending Point: Judapur Dandu village (Prayagraj)
• Total Districts (12): Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj
• Connectivity: Connects western Uttar Pradesh with eastern Uttar Pradesh

Important Exam-Oriented Information:

• Uttar Pradesh has now become the top state in India with 8 operational expressways

Operational Expressways in Uttar Pradesh:

• After the inauguration of Ganga Expressway and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway by PM Narendra Modi, the total number of operational expressways has reached 8

 The Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway was inaugurated on April 14, 2026

Under Construction & Proposed Expressways:

• Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway (NE-6): 63 km, 6 lanes (under construction by NHAI, nearing completion)
• Ghaziabad-Kanpur Expressway: 380 km, 6 lanes (proposed by NHAI)
• Vindhya Expressway: Approximately 277–320 km, 6 lanes (under process by UPIDA)
• Ballia Link Expressway: 114 km (from Ghazipur to Manjhi Ghat via Ballia)
• Meerut-Haridwar Link Expressway: Approximately 120–130 km, 6 lanes (proposed)
• Jhansi Link Expressway: 118.9 km, 6 lanes (proposed/under construction)
• Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway (UP section): Approximately 132 km (under construction by NHAI)

Other Important Information:

• Expressway State: Uttar Pradesh has become India’s ‘Expressway Hub’ with more than 60% of the country’s total expressway network
• Longest Expressway: Ganga Expressway (594 km) is the longest in the state
• Strategic Importance: Emergency airstrips have been built on Purvanchal, Ganga, and Agra-Lucknow expressways, which are strategically important for the Indian Air Force

Major National Expressways in India: