CM Yogi to extend Purvanchal Expressway to Varanasi and Shaktinagar
Synopsis
CM Yogi Adityanath has announced an extension of the Purvanchal Expressway beyond Ghazipur, routing it through Chandauli and Varanasi to Shaktinagar in Sonbhadra — deepening the state's expressway push into eastern UP's industrial and religious heartland.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath announced on 30 July 2026 that the Purvanchal Expressway will be extended beyond its current terminus at Ghazipur .
The proposed route runs from Ghazipur through Chandauli , into Varanasi , and terminates at Shaktinagar in Sonbhadra district .
The existing Purvanchal Expressway is a six-lane corridor from Lucknow to Ghazipur , inaugurated between 2021 and 2022 .
Shaktinagar hosts thermal power plants and industrial activity, making the link strategically significant for freight and energy logistics.
Route finalisation, land acquisition, and funding allocation for the new segments are yet to be announced.
Eastern Uttar Pradesh is about to get a longer lifeline. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Thursday, 30 July 2026 that his government has decided to extend the Purvanchal Expressway beyond its current eastern terminus at Ghazipur — pushing it through Chandauli, into Varanasi, and all the way to Shaktinagar in Sonbhadra district.
In his post, the Chief Minister stated: 'हमारी सरकार ने तय किया है कि पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे को गाजीपुर से चंदौली और चंदौली को वाराणसी से जोड़ते हुए शक्तिनगर तक ले जाएंगे' — 'Our government has decided that we will extend the Purvanchal Expressway from Ghazipur through Chandauli, connect Chandauli to Varanasi, and take it all the way to Shaktinagar.'
Where the expressway stands today
The Purvanchal Expressway is a six-lane, access-controlled corridor that runs from Lucknow to Ghazipur, inaugurated in phases between 2021 and 2022. It was designed from the start to cut travel times across the historically under-connected eastern belt of the state. Ghazipur has been its eastern end — until now.
The proposed extension would add a significant new leg, threading through Chandauli and into Varanasi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency — before terminating at Shaktinagar, a town anchored by thermal power plants and industrial infrastructure in Sonbhadra.
What the Shaktinagar link means for Purvanchal
The Yogi government has built its infrastructure identity on a dense web of expressways across Uttar Pradesh, with Purvanchal as a particular focus. The logic is straightforward: faster roads attract logistics investment, and logistics investment draws industry to districts that have long lagged behind western UP.
Reaching Shaktinagar matters beyond symbolism. The town sits at the edge of UP's coal and power belt, and a high-speed corridor connecting it to Lucknow via Varanasi would reduce freight costs and open a direct artery for industrial movement through the state's eastern flank. For residents of Chandauli and Sonbhadra — districts with significant tribal and rural populations — the connectivity dividend could be substantial.
Route finalisation, land acquisition timelines, and funding allocation for the new segments are yet to be announced publicly. Those details will determine how quickly the vision moves off the expressway and onto the ground.
Point of View
PM Modi's constituency, carries clear political weight alongside its economic rationale. Reaching Shaktinagar would knit the state's coal and power belt into the expressway grid, a move that could accelerate industrial investment in Sonbhadra. The real test, as with every such announcement, will be the speed of land acquisition and whether funding is committed in the next state budget.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Purvanchal Expressway extension announced by CM Yogi?
CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the Purvanchal Expressway will be extended from its current eastern terminus at Ghazipur, passing through Chandauli and Varanasi, and ending at Shaktinagar in Sonbhadra district.
Where does the Purvanchal Expressway currently end?
The Purvanchal Expressway currently runs from Lucknow to Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was inaugurated in phases between 2021 and 2022.
Why is Shaktinagar significant for the expressway extension?
Shaktinagar in Sonbhadra district hosts major thermal power plants and industrial facilities. Connecting it to the expressway network would reduce freight costs and improve logistics for the state's coal and power sector.
Will the Purvanchal Expressway extension pass through Varanasi?
Yes. According to CM Yogi's announcement, the extended route will connect Chandauli to Varanasi before continuing to Shaktinagar.
When will the Purvanchal Expressway extension be built?
No construction timeline has been announced yet. Route finalisation, land acquisition, and funding allocation for the Ghazipur-Chandauli-Varanasi-Shaktinagar segments are still pending.
