Uttar Pradesh Expands Its Expressway Network to 42% of India's Total

Uttar Pradesh's Growing Expressway Network

With the recent inauguration of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Uttar Pradesh now accounts for 42% of the entire access-controlled expressway network in India, a rise from the previous figure of 38%, as reported by a spokesperson from the state government on Friday.

Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh highlighted that India has a total of 2,900 kilometers of access-controlled expressways, with over 1,200 kilometers situated in Uttar Pradesh. This increase in percentage reflects the state's significant contribution to the national expressway infrastructure.

Uttar Pradesh stands out as the only state in India where the highest number of expressways have been completed, with several more either under construction or in the planning stages. The Gorakhpur Link Expressway marks the seventh operational expressway in the state, alongside three others currently being built and eight more proposed.

The spokesperson noted that construction is advancing swiftly on several key projects, including the Ganga Expressway (594 km), Ballia Link Expressway (35 km), and Lucknow-Kanpur Greenfield Expressway (63 km). Additionally, the Chitrakoot Link Expressway is in progress, which will connect the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways via Farrukhabad. Another link expressway is also being constructed to connect the Ganga Expressway with the Jewar Airport Link Expressway.

The state government asserts that Uttar Pradesh is the only region in the country with plans for an expressway network exceeding 2,000 kilometers. These expressways aim to enhance connectivity not just in urban centers but also in underdeveloped areas such as Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, and Terai.