New expressway expected to cut travel time, boost logistics and link 12 districts, as leaders highlight infrastructure gains and broader economic impact in Uttar Pradesh.
PM Modi inaugurates ₹36,230 crore Ganga Expressway, pitches development and electoral momentum. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district and used the platform to strike an election note, expressing confidence that the BJP is headed for a “historic hat-trick” in the ongoing state polls.
“I am confident that in the elections in these five states, the BJP is going to complete a historic hat-trick of victories (after victories in Bihar Assembly polls and Gujarat civic polls). The results of May 4 will strengthen the resolve for a developed India,” PM Modi said while addressing a gathering.
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The high-speed corridor, built at an estimated cost of ₹36,230 crore, is being projected as a key infrastructure intervention aimed at boosting connectivity and economic activity across Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi described the project as a “new lifeline” for the state’s development, drawing a parallel with the role of the Ganga in sustaining life and growth.
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According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the 594-km-long, six-lane expressway, expandable to eight lanes, will link 12 districts, including Meerut, Hardoi and Prayagraj, connecting western, central and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The project is expected to cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10-12 hours to around six hours. It also features a 3.5-km emergency landing strip in Shahjahanpur, adding a strategic dimension to the corridor.
The expressway is designed to function as an economic backbone, with integrated manufacturing and logistics corridors planned across more than 2,600 hectares along its route. Officials say this will reduce logistics costs, improve supply chains and generate employment.
The project is also expected to provide farmers with direct access to urban and export markets, boost tourism, and generate direct and indirect employment across the region.
During his speech, PM Modi also referred to recent local body election results in Gujarat, claiming that the BJP had won “eighty to 85% of the municipalities and panchayats.”
Turning to West Bengal, where polling is underway, the Prime Minister said voter turnout remains strong. “Just like in the first phase, people are coming out in large numbers to cast their votes. Images of long queues are circulating on social media,” he said.
He added that voting was taking place in a “fearless atmosphere,” something he said was “unimaginable in the last six or seven decades,” calling it a reflection of a strengthening democracy. “People are casting their votes without any fear. This stands as a sacred symbol of the country’s Constitution and of our strengthening democracy,” he said, urging voters to continue participating in large numbers as polling continues.
Polling is underway in 142 constituencies across six districts, including Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia and East Burdwan, with heavy deployment of central forces and state police.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the state has undergone a “significant transformation” over the past nine years, moving away from what he described as an era of lawlessness before 2017.
“Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was trapped in dynastic politics and casteism, in riots, disorder and curfews… In such an environment, one could not imagine development or investment,” Adityanath said.
He added that the state now has a vast road network of nearly four lakh kilometres, which has helped accelerate development and attract investment.
The Chief Minister also recalled that the foundation stone of the expressway was laid in December 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said timely execution was made possible through “clear intent and transparency.”
Officials said the Ganga Expressway will integrate with other major corridors such as the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Jewar Link Expressway and Farrukhabad Link Expressway, creating a wider high-speed network across the state.
The project is also expected to improve market access for farmers, boost tourism and strengthen regional connectivity from north to south and east to west.
The Prime Minister also targeted opposition parties during his address, accusing the Congress and Samajwadi Party of being “anti-women” and “anti-development,” and said Uttar Pradesh is moving towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy with growing industrial and manufacturing potential.
PM Modi also planted a sapling during his visit to Hardoi.
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