The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has approved the expansion of the Ganga Expressway to strengthen state infrastructure. During the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the government cleared the proposal to extend the Ganga Expressway up to Haridwar via Bijnor. A budget of 18,761 crore rupees has been approved for this expansion project (which incorporates allocations including 10,761 crore rupees for project execution). This extension will directly connect two prominent pilgrimage destinations, Prayagraj and Haridwar, through a seamless access-controlled expressway network.
Route Alignment and Technical Specifications
The proposed route for the Ganga Expressway extension begins from Amroha, passing through Bijnor before reaching Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The total length of this new stretch is estimated between 130 km and 147 km. Out of this total distance, approximately 100 km falls within the territory of Uttar Pradesh, while around 30 km will be constructed in Uttarakhand. Designed as a 6-lane greenfield expressway, the infrastructure carries the provision to be expanded to 8 lanes in the future to handle higher traffic volumes. The entire financial expenditure for constructing this project will be borne solely by the Uttar Pradesh state government.
Relief for Existing National Highway and Next Steps
Following the cabinet approval, work will commence on preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with other requisite administrative formalities. At present, commuters traveling between Bijnor and Haridwar rely on the Meerut-Bijnor-Haridwar National Highway, which frequently experiences heavy congestion. Establishing a dedicated expressway corridor between Prayagraj and Haridwar will establish a fast, high-speed transit facility. Beyond cutting down travel time between Bijnor and Haridwar, the project will significantly enhance overall road connectivity between Bijnor and the state capital, Lucknow.
Boost to Spiritual Tourism and Local Employment
As Prayagraj and Haridwar serve as the nation's premier locations for the holy Kumbh gatherings, direct high-speed connectivity is expected to deliver a major boost to religious and spiritual tourism. Construction activities and subsequent commercial growth alongside the corridor will create substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities. Enhanced road infrastructure is set to accelerate tourism-centered trade, regional business, and socio-economic development across Bijnor, Haridwar, and neighboring districts linked to the Ganga Expressway network.
