PM Modi to Inaugurate Ganga Expressway, Boosting Connectivity Across Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi, April 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on Wednesday to offer prayers at the revered Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple before travelling to Hardoi to inaugurate the ambitious Ganga Expressway project, a major infrastructure milestone for the country.

According to an official statement, the Prime Minister is scheduled to perform darshan and pooja at the temple at around 8:30 am. He will then proceed to Hardoi, where he will inaugurate the expressway at approximately 11:30 am and address a public gathering.

The Ganga Expressway, spanning 594 kilometres, is one of India’s longest access-controlled highways. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 36,230 crore, the six-lane (expandable to eight lanes) greenfield corridor is designed to significantly enhance high-speed connectivity across the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The expressway passes through 12 districts—Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj—creating a seamless link between western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. This integrated corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from the current 10–12 hours to nearly six hours, greatly improving transportation efficiency.

One of the standout features of the project is a 3.5-kilometre-long emergency landing facility in Shahjahanpur district. This airstrip can be used by the Indian Air Force during emergencies, adding a strategic dimension to the expressway beyond its economic and civilian utility.

The Ganga Expressway is envisioned as more than just a transport corridor. Plans are in place to develop integrated manufacturing and logistics hubs across approximately 2,635 hectares along its route. These developments are expected to lower logistics costs, strengthen supply chains, and enhance the competitiveness of industries operating in the region.

The project is also set to bring significant benefits to the agricultural sector. Improved connectivity will allow farmers easier access to urban markets and export channels, enabling better price realisation and boosting rural incomes. In addition, the expressway is expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities across multiple sectors.

Tourism is another area likely to benefit, as faster and more reliable road connectivity will make key destinations more accessible, encouraging both domestic and international travel.

The Ganga Expressway will also serve as a critical backbone for a broader expressway network in the state. It will integrate with existing and planned corridors such as the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, Jewar Link Expressway, and Farrukhabad Link Expressway, along with a proposed extension from Meerut to Haridwar. This expanding network aims to create a comprehensive grid of high-speed roads connecting different parts of Uttar Pradesh from east to west and north to south.

Officials described the Ganga Expressway as a transformative initiative that will not only improve mobility but also drive economic growth, attract investments, and support balanced regional development across the state.