There has been unprecedented expansion of expressways, national highways and rural roads in Uttar Pradesh. UP has become the leading road infrastructure state in the country with 3 to 22 expressways, 12,292 km of national highways and 77,000+ km of rural road network.
Lucknow. Under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, a large and strong network of expressways, national highways, state roads and rural roads has developed in Uttar Pradesh. The government aims to make the state a one trillion dollar economy by 2029. For this, strengthening the road infrastructure has been considered extremely important. The Chief Minister considers good road connectivity as the most important basis for industry, investment and economic development.
Uttar Pradesh: Country’s largest expressway network
The result of the visionary policies of the double engine government is that today Uttar Pradesh has become the state with the largest expressway network in the country. Before 2017, there were only 3 expressways in the state, but today this number has increased to 22. Due to this, the traffic has increased almost 3 times and the pace of economic development of the state has also increased.
Historic increase in number of expressways
- 1949–50: 0 expressways
- 2016–17: 3 Expressway
- 2025–26: 22 expressways (including under construction and proposed)
Besides, North-South Corridor is also being developed to ensure easy access to major routes like Ganga Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Gorakhpur Link. A road network grid is being prepared to connect all the district headquarters of the state which will further strengthen the connectivity.
Tremendous expansion in national highways
Along with expressways, national highways are also playing a big role in the progress of the state. Between 2004–05 to 2023–24:
- National Highway Length: 5,599 km → 12,292 km
- Share in total National Highways of India: 7.48% in 2016–17 → 41% in 2023–24
This growth makes Uttar Pradesh the most important hub of the national road network.
Big improvement in traffic system
The expansion of the road network has brought about a big change in the connectivity of the cities and rural areas of the state. This made travel easier, increased trade, improved access to education and health services, faster transportation of goods, and increased economic activity in rural and remote areas. The expansion of national highways has also greatly facilitated inter-state movement and logistics.
Rural road network increased three times under PMGSY
In the last eight years, Uttar Pradesh has paid special attention to rural development. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a major expansion in road length was seen.
- 2013–14: 51,549.23 km
- 2016–17: 56,846.93 km
- 2024–25: 77,425.14 km
Due to the policies and effective implementation of CM Yogi, there has been significant improvement in last mile connectivity in rural areas, due to which the economic development of villages has increased rapidly.