PM Modi Launches Ganga Expressway: Rs 36,230 Crore Corridor Inaugurated
Synopsis
PM Modi inaugurates the 594-km Ganga Expressway — India's longest greenfield corridor built at Rs 36,230 crore — slashing Meerut-Prayagraj travel time from 12 hours to 6, while also featuring a 3.5 km emergency airstrip in Shahjahanpur with dual civilian-military utility.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi inaugurates the Ganga Expressway on April 29, 2025 at Hardoi , Uttar Pradesh.
The expressway spans 594 km across 12 districts , built at a cost of Rs 36,230 crore .
Travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj will drop from 10-12 hours to approximately 6 hours .
A 3.5 km Emergency Landing Facility (airstrip) in Shahjahanpur adds strategic defence value.
Over 112 foundation stones worth Rs 5,300 crore laid in Varanasi, including a 500-bed multi-super-speciality hospital .
Two new Amrit Bharat Express trains flagged off: Banaras–Pune (Hadapsar) and Ayodhya–Mumbai (LTT) .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the much-anticipated Ganga Expressway during a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh beginning Tuesday, April 29, also laying the foundation stone for over 112 projects worth Rs 5,300 crore in Varanasi and flagging off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains — marking one of the most infrastructure-dense state visits in recent memory.
The visit underscores the ruling government's continued push to position Uttar Pradesh as a flagship model of infrastructure-led development ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Key Developments Across the Two-Day Visit
On April 28, PM Modi will attend a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, where he is expected to spotlight women-centric schemes of the so-called
Point of View
The corridor's timing ahead of state electoral cycles is hardly incidental. What mainstream coverage often glosses over is the strategic military dimension: an emergency airstrip embedded within civilian infrastructure signals a maturing dual-use infrastructure doctrine in India. The Rs 36,230 crore price tag also demands scrutiny on land acquisition timelines and ecological impact across 2,635 hectares of corridor land — questions that deserve answers even as the economic promise is real.
NationPress
4 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ganga Expressway and where is it located?
The Ganga Expressway is a 594-kilometre, 6-lane greenfield high-speed corridor in Uttar Pradesh connecting Meerut to Prayagraj. It passes through 12 districts including Meerut, Hapur, Sambhal, Hardoi, Unnao, and Prayagraj, built at a total cost of Rs 36,230 crore.
When is PM Modi inaugurating the Ganga Expressway?
PM Modi is inaugurating the Ganga Expressway on April 29, 2025, at Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh. The inauguration is part of a two-day state visit that also includes events in Varanasi.
How will the Ganga Expressway reduce travel time?
The Ganga Expressway will cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from the current 10-12 hours to approximately 6 hours. The access-controlled high-speed corridor enables faster, uninterrupted movement across western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
What is the emergency airstrip on the Ganga Expressway?
A 3.5-kilometre Emergency Landing Facility (airstrip) has been built in Shahjahanpur district along the Ganga Expressway. This dual-use infrastructure serves both civilian emergency purposes and enhances national security and defence preparedness.
What other projects did PM Modi launch in Varanasi?
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for over 112 projects worth Rs 5,300 crore in Varanasi, including 13 sewerage and water supply schemes under AMRUT 2.0 and a 500-bed multi-super-speciality hospital at Shri Shiv Prasad Gupta Divisional District Hospital. He also flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Banaras–Pune and Ayodhya–Mumbai.
