Ganga Expressway is an under-construction, 1,047 km (651 mi) long, of which 594 km (369 mi) has been approved, 6-lane (expandable to 8) wide greenfield expressway in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.[2] It is being constructed in two phases. Phase-1 will connect Bijauli village on NH-334inMeerut district with Judapur Dandu village on NH-19inPrayagraj district, while Phase-2 will see the extension of both sides of the expressway: from Prayagraj to Ballia and from MeeruttoHaridwar. It is being implemented by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) on the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) Model.
The construction work from Meerut to Prayagraj has been divided into 12 packages. Packages 1 to 3 will be constructed and maintained by IRB Infrastructure, while Packages 4 to 12 by Adani Enterprises.[6][7] The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, led by Yogi Adityanath met at Prayagraj, the venue of the Kumbh Mela, and cleared the decks to construct Ganga Expressway on 29 January 2019.[8][9]
The project aims to construct a 1,047 km access-controlled 8-lane wide expressway running along the Ganga river.[2][10] This expressway will connect Greater NoidatoBallia, ensuring high-speed connectivity between the Eastern and Western boundaries of Uttar Pradesh.[11] The proposed expressway from Ballia to Greater Noida is also planned to serve as a flood control embankment since floods are a major cause of agricultural and environmental damage in the area, and lead to many deaths as well as the spread of diseases during India's monsoon season. The construction work on Ganga Expressway was not started then because of an order from the Allahabad High Court. The order instructed that the state and the concessionaire complete a full environmental study and obtain permission from the Government before embarking on the construction.
The UPEIDA has divided the construction work of 594 km long Phase-1 (Meerut to Prayagraj) into 12 different packages. The total expected project value is around ₹37,350 crores, including the land acquisition cost of around ₹9,500 crores.[12][13]
On 30 November 2021, Adani Enterprises and IRB Infrastructure Developers emerged as the preferred bidders for the expressway’s development. Both were awarded the agreement to build and Operate the Expressway on DBFOT basis with tolling rights for a period of 30 years. IRB Infrastructure bagged Group 1 (consisting of Packages 1, 2 &3); while Adani bagged Groups 2, 3 & 4 (consisting of Packages 4 to 12) [14]
Note: The Adani Enterprises has further sub-contracted the civil construction work of Package-4, 5 and 6 to HG Infra Engineering Limited. It has sub-contracted Package-7, 8 and 9 to Patel Infra Projects Limited and similarly it has sub-contracted Package-10, 11 and 12 to ITD Cementation India Limited.
The total length of Phase-2 is 453 km. The Government of Uttar Pradesh decided to extend the project on either ends i.e. MeeruttoHaridwar (Spur-1) and PrayagrajtoBallia (Spur-2) via Varanasi. As of February 2021, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase-2 has not yet been prepared yet.[17] UP CM Yogi Adityanath has announced to extend the expressway to Haridwar via Nagina on 20 December 2023.
Pharma parks, textile parks will be developed around Ganga Expressway. There is also a preparation to build large industrial corridors at the beginning and end of the expressway. Due to its proximity to the expressway, many investors are expected to set up their industries here.[18]
The land around the departure points of Meerut, from where the expressway is to start, will be developed for industries.
Ashok Agarwal, national president, Indian Industries Association (IIA), said “We have also received queries related to the allotment of land along the Ganga Expressway from investors. Most of the queries are for land in Meerut, Budaun and its adjoining areas”.[19]
Jan 2019: Stalled planned project since 2007, the Ganga Expressway project has been revived again. The project was launched on 29 January 2019 by the Chief MinisterofUttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.
Feb 2019: Expressway to be built parallel to the Ganga river course, however, a distance of 10 km will be maintained so as to ensure easier compliance with environmental laws.[21]
Sep 2019: Two alignment plans are ready, CM Yogi Adityanath to approve one of them, and then a consultant will be appointed to prepare and submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The expressway is to be ready by 2024.[22]
Feb 2020: ₹2,000 crores was allocated for the construction of Ganga Expressway in the Uttar Pradesh budget on 18 February 2020. The 594 km long 1st phase connecting Meerut to Prayagraj is set to be completed by 2024.[citation needed]
Mar 2021: Tenders floated for Phase-1 by the government of Uttar Pradesh in 12 packages.[citation needed]
May 2021: 3,440 hectares of required land have been acquired till 30 May. The 594 km long 1st phase of the Ganga Expressway will pass through 519 villages across 12 districts.[23][24]
Jun 2021: 5,260 hectares of required land has been acquired till 30 June.[25][26][27]
Aug 2021: 6,532 hectares (around 90%) of required land has been acquired till 16 August. Punjab National Bank (PNB) approved ₹5,100 crore loan for this project on 21 August.[28]
Sep 2021: Around 93% of land acquisition completed. The Uttar Pradesh cabinet gave approval to this project on 2 September.[29]
Nov 2021: The expressway gets environmental clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet gives ₹36,230 crore clearance to build the expressway. Foundation stone for the start of construction work will be laid in December, and 94% of land acquisition will be completed, as of 20 November.[30][31][32]
Nov 2021: 3 firms bid to build the expressway. The bidder name will likely be finalised by this week or next week, as of 22 November.[33]
Apr 2022: Construction work started by Adani Enterprises in Binawar (Budaun) on 11 April.[36]
Jul 2022:56% of clearing and grubbing work is complete.[37]
Jan 2023: 84% of clearing and grubbing, and 10.25% of earthwork are complete.[38]
Mar 2023: The expressway is now expected to be completed by December 2024.[39]
Apr 2023: More than 20% of the construction has been completed.[40]
Oct 2023: Uttar Pradesh government announces that it will acquire land to set up an industrial city in Meerut, adjacent to entry and exit points of the expressway.[19]
Nov 2023: 100% cleaning and grubbing work completed.[41]
