UP Biggest expressway network: A big network of 22 expressways including Ganga, Lucknow-Kanpur and Gorakhpur-Shamli is being prepared in Uttar Pradesh. Many projects can start by March 2026. Know which districts will get the benefit and how much travel time will be reduced.
From Lucknow to Meerut and Gorakhpur to Prayagraj, the road picture of Uttar Pradesh is changing rapidly. The way the state has invested in the expressway network in the last few years now seems to be becoming a ground reality. Three major expressways are set to become fully operational in the coming months, while several mega projects are in the pipeline.
UP is now not just building roads, but creating an overall “expressway grid”, which will give the state a new identity on the national logistics map. The proposed network of 22 expressways is part of this strategy—some greenfield, some link corridors connecting major highways.
Ganga Expressway: 96% work completed, preparation to open in March
Ganga Expressway is the most ambitious project connecting Western UP to Eastern UP. It passes through districts like Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj.
- More than 96% construction work of main carriageway completed
- Successful testing of FASTag toll system
- Likely to be fully opened in March
This expressway is believed to give impetus to industrial investment, agricultural transportation and religious tourism.
Also read: Dehradun in 2 hours! Countdown to Delhi-Dehradun Expressway trial begins
Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway: Travel in 45 minutes
The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, also known as National Expressway-6 (NE-6), is an approximately 63 km long 6-lane access-controlled corridor. In future it can be expanded to 8-lanes.
- The current journey of 2.5–3 hours reduced to 35–45 minutes.
- 18–19 km long elevated section, longest in UP
- Cost of about Rs 4700 crore under Bharatmala project
The final phase of work is in progress near Scooter India intersection in Lucknow. There is a possibility that it may be opened to the public in the last week of March 2026 or in April.
Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway: 750 km mega corridor
Gorakhpur-Shamli Expressway will be the longest proposed expressway of UP, whose length is about 750 kilometers. It will pass through 22 districts and directly connect Western UP with Purvanchal.
- DPR complete
- Land acquisition process expedited
- Main construction work likely to begin in 2026–27
Experts believe that this project can play an important role in reducing regional imbalance.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Big benefit for UP too
A significant part of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway passes through Uttar Pradesh. This 210 km long 6-lane expressway will reduce the journey from Delhi to Dehradun from 6–7 hours to 2.5–3 hours.
- 12 km long elevated corridor
- Section passing over Rajaji National Park
- Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Saharanpur will benefit.
This corridor will give new impetus to tourism, industry and real estate.
Neighboring states also benefit
The benefits of this extensive expressway network of UP will not be limited to the state only. Faster connectivity with neighboring states like Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will reduce logistics costs and encourage trade.
Grid of 22 Expressways: Strategic Thinking
The grid of 22 expressways prepared by the state government includes major greenfield corridors and link expressways. Its objective is to ensure that every major economic, industrial and agricultural sector of the state gets high-speed connectivity. According to transport experts, if these projects are completed in a timely manner, UP can be among the states with the strongest road network in the country.
The expressway model of Uttar Pradesh is not just an attempt to reduce distance, but a roadmap for economic development. Time savings, fuel reduction, better logistics and investment opportunities—all are directly related to better road infrastructure.
When these projects are fully operational in the coming two-three years, the connectivity of UP can become an example in the country.
Also read: Delhi-Meerut in 57 minutes! Rapid Rail and Metro on the same track, PM will launch