UP’s Ganga Expressway completed, reduces travel time and improve businesses

Uttar Pradesh (UP) government’s ambitious Ganga Expressway connecting Meerut to Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) has been completed, with a proposed inauguration set for January 15, 2026, announced Awanish K Awasthi, Advisor to the UP Chief Minister, on Monday (22 December) on social media platform X.

Informing about the completion of the 594 km long highway project, Awasthi said that the expressway is now fully completed, with all major structures, including the Unnao stretch, ready.

“This expressway will significantly boost connectivity, economic activity, and overall development, marking a new chapter in UP’s infrastructure journey,” he wrote on X.

Making travel and transport easy

The expressway will have three main entry and exit points in Hardoi district, making travel easier for local people and businesses.

The Hardoi section is important because the expressway passes through 13 districts. Once completed, it will cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj, helping people and goods move faster between the two cities. It will also connect with the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, improving overall road connectivity.

Modern logistics hub

A modern logistics hub is being built on 337 acres in Hardoi district. It will have warehouses, transport facilities, and cold storage units. The project is expected to create jobs for local people and bring new investment to the area. It will play a key role in Hardoi’s industrial growth and make the district more attractive for businesses.

Improving tourism and trade

The Ganga Expressway will improve travel and also help grow tourism and trade in the region. It will have six lanes, with space to expand to eight lanes in the future. The project is expected to boost the regional economy and create new opportunities for both businesses and people.

Cost of the construction

The overall construction cost of the highway is around Rs 42,000 crore. The project was mainly given to two companies, Adani Enterprises and IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd, under the Design, Bid, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. It also included a traffic-linked expandable concession period of up to 36 years, which includes three years for construction.

IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd has built a 129-kilometre section between Meerut and Badaun for ₹6,555 crore, while Adani Enterprises built three stretches of the Ganga Expressway project for a concession period of 30 years.