Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Ganga Expressway on April 29, 2026, in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Modi in Shahjahanpur on December 18, 2021. The project received state cabinet approval in 2020.
The 594-km expressway runs from Bijoli village in Meerut to near Judapur Dandu village in Prayagraj. It connects western and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
It is a six-lane, access-controlled corridor with scope for expansion to eight lanes. The project is being developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority at an estimated cost of ₹36,230 crore. It is set to be the longest greenfield expressway in India.
The expressway passes through 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj. It connects 519 villages and runs broadly parallel to the Ganga River.
Travel time, toll and key features
Travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj is expected to reduce from about 10–12 hours to 6–7 hours. This is likely to improve passenger movement and freight transport.
A 3.5-km emergency airstrip near Shahjahanpur is part of the project. It is designed for Indian Air Force use and was tested in May 2025 with fighter and transport aircraft.
Proposed toll rates are around ₹2.55 per km for cars, which comes to about ₹1,500 for the full stretch. FASTag-based toll collection will be mandatory.
Economic impact and connectivity
The expressway is expected to reduce logistics costs by cutting travel time and fuel use. It may support trade, industrial activity, and investment along the corridor.
It is also expected to generate employment and support new industrial clusters. Farmers may benefit from faster access to markets, especially for perishable goods, which can reduce spoilage and improve price realisation.
The route links western Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi-NCR region with eastern districts, improving supply chains across regions.
Expressway network and tourism
Uttar Pradesh currently accounts for about 55% of India’s expressway network. This share is expected to rise to nearly 60% after the project becomes operational.
Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has expanded road infrastructure, including projects such as the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand expressways.
Improved connectivity to Prayagraj and other cultural centres is expected to support religious and regional tourism and benefit local businesses.