The Ganga Expressway, a 594-km infrastructure marvel connecting Meerut to Prayagraj, is set to transform Uttar Pradesh by slashing travel times and boosting economic growth. With 82% completion in Western UP and plans for expansion to Haridwar and Ballia, the project promises enhanced tourism, real estate, and industrial development, despite delays pushing its opening to April 2025.
Ganga Expressway: Revolutionizing Uttar Pradesh’s Connectivity
The Ganga Expressway, a flagship infrastructure project of Uttar Pradesh, is poised to redefine connectivity across the state. Spanning 594 km from Bijauli village in Meerut to Judapur Dandu in Prayagraj, this six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway, expandable to eight lanes, will traverse 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj. With a budget of over ₹36,230 crore, the project, led by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), is designed to cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10-12 hours to 6-8 hours, offering a maximum speed of 120 km/h.
As of December 2024, the expressway has achieved significant progress, with 99% of earthwork and 82% of construction in Western Uttar Pradesh completed. The project includes 32 flyovers, seven railway overbridges, 14 major bridges, 126 minor bridges, and 381 underpasses, ensuring seamless connectivity. A 3.5-km airstrip in Shahjahanpur near Jalalabad is also under construction for emergency Indian Air Force operations. Despite an initial target for completion by December 2024 to align with the Maha Kumbh 2025, environmental restrictions under GRAP 4 in Meerut, Hapur, and Bulandshahr have delayed the timeline to March-April 2025.
The expressway’s impact extends beyond transportation. It is expected to catalyze economic growth by fostering industrial corridors, logistic hubs, and warehouses along its route. The Uttar Pradesh government has proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs), pharma parks, textile parks, and IT parks, particularly around Meerut, Budaun, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj. Real estate markets in these regions are already witnessing a surge, with rising demand for residential, commercial, and retail properties. For instance, land prices in Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Meerut are projected to appreciate due to improved accessibility, drawing investors and homebuyers.
Tourism is another sector set to benefit significantly. The expressway will enhance access to key pilgrim and tourist destinations like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Agra, and Uttarakhand, with a proposed extension to Haridwar connecting to the Char Dham Highway. Its integration with the Purvanchal Expressway in Ghazipur and the Bundelkhand Expressway in Chitrakoot will create a robust network linking Western UP to Bihar and the Vindhya-Kashi region, further boosting regional connectivity.
A new 74.3-km expressway linking Noida International Airport in Jewar to the Ganga Expressway, approved in April 2025, will enhance connectivity to the Yamuna Expressway and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This ₹4,000-crore project, passing through 54 villages in Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr, is expected to spur industrial and real estate growth, including a proposed international film city in YEIDA’s Sector 21. Additionally, a 92-km link expressway from Etawah to Hardoi, connecting the Ganga Expressway to the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, was announced in December 2024, further strengthening UP’s infrastructure grid.
The project has set global benchmarks, with Adani Road and Transport Limited, in partnership with Patel Infrastructure, achieving world records for laying 34.24 lane km of bituminous concrete and 10 km of crash barriers in 24 hours between Hardoi and Unnao, as recognized by the Golden Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records, and India Book of Records. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has lauded this feat as a testament to Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructure prowess under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance.
Despite delays, the Ganga Expressway remains a cornerstone of Uttar Pradesh’s ambition to lead India’s infrastructure landscape. With 94% of land acquisition complete and structural work at 98%, the project is on track to reshape the state’s economic and social fabric by April 2025.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent news reports, official statements from UPEIDA, and insights from real estate and infrastructure sources. Information is accurate as of September 2025, but project timelines and details may change. Readers are advised to verify critical details independently.