Traffic On Ganga Expressway To Commence By December, In Time For Mahakumbh 2025

The Ganga expressway — which will connect Meerut with Prayagraj — will be open to the general public by December 2024 so that devotees can benefit during the Prayagraj Kumbh in 2025.

The Kumbh Mela unfolds at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj in 2025 is anticipated to be significantly larger and more grandiose compared to its 2019 counterpart.

According to the progress report from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), over 75 per cent of the earthwork on this 594-kilometre-long expressway has already been completed.

Moreover, a total of 1481 structures including small and large bridges and ROBs are planned for construction along the expressway. Of these, work on 1085 structures has been completed. The remaining work is being expedited to ensure the completion of the expressway by December 2024.

The project

The Ganga Expressway starts from NH-334 near the Bijauli village in Meerut district and terminates at Prayagraj Bypass on NH-19 near Judapur Dandu village in Prayagraj.

Traversing through 12 districts including Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareilly, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj, the expressway will link the eastern and western parts of the state.

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship company of the Adani Group, has been contracted to construct a 464-kilometre-long stretch of the expressway from Badaun to Prayagraj, covering 80 per cent of its length.

On the other hand, Meerut Badaun Expressway Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited, is tasked with developing 22 per cent or 129.7 kilometres of the Ganga Expressway from Badaun to Meerut.

The construction of six-lane, access-controlled expressway, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh on 18 December 2021.

Once operational, the travel time from Meerut to Prayagraj will be cut down to a mere 6 hours, a significant improvement from the current 10 to 12-hour journey.