Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29 inaugurated the 594-km long Ganga Expressway, the longest expressway so far in Uttar Pradesh. It is a six-lane expressway that aims to reduce the travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj to 6 hours.
Uttar Pradesh has over 60 per cent of the country’s total access-controlled expressway network. Recently, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar pointed out that of the nearly 2,900 km of such highways across the country, close to 1,200 km are located in the state.
Meerut District Magistrate and Collector Vijay Kumar Singh said the project has generated tremendous excitement among the public. He noted that the expressway will greatly enhance connectivity to Prayagraj as well as the state capital, Lucknow.
Experts say the expressway’s length is particularly significant. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, road transport remains economically efficient for freight over distances of up to about 600 km, while rail becomes more viable beyond that point.
At 594 km, the Ganga Expressway falls almost exactly within this crucial range for cargo movement.
