Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday (27 February), said, before the end of 2024, Uttar Pradesh will have road infrastructure similar to the United States.
Earlier, Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of seven National Highway projects with an investment of Rs 6,500 crore in Chitbada village in Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
‘The condition of roads in UP was not good before the year 2014. After the Narendra Modi government came to power, National Highway has increased from 7,643 km to 13,000 km in the state,’ Gadkari said.
‘Before the end of the year 2024, Uttar Pradesh will have road infrastructure like in America. The state is growing very fast and its picture will change with the development of roads. The villages and the poor will be happy and prosperous in the state. The youth will also get employment and UP will become the leading state in the country,’ he said.
The major projects which were inaugurated include upgradation of Ghazipur-Ballia-Manjhi Ghat Stretch on NH 31 and construction of Ballia Link Expressway.
On this occasion, Gadkari also announced the new connectivity route between Ballia-Ara through 28-km new spur road at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore and Gorakhpur Ring Road at a cost Rs 2,381 crore.
Ballia Link Expressway
The 116 km long Ghazipur-Ballia-Manjhi Ghat greenfield expressway will connect Ballia with Purvanchal Expressway.
With the construction of Ballia Link Expressway, it would be possible to reach Patna from Lucknow through Purvanchal Expressway in just four-and-a-half hours.
‘Ballia to Buxar can be reached in half an hour, Ballia to Chhapra in one hour and Ballia to Patna in one-and-a-half hour. With the construction of Greenfield Highway, eastern UP will get better connectivity with Chhapra, Patna, Buxar in Bihar,’ he said.
Ghazipur-Buxar Spur
The 17-km long link road will connect the existing Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh with Buxar Bihar at a cost of Rs 618 crore.
The Buxar spur connectivity is part of Ballia link expressway.