Ganga Expressway to be Completed by December; Skill Development Centres Planned at Defence Corridor Nodes
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the expressway network in Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the backbone of the state’s industrial growth and economic transformation. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Expressway Development Authority (UPIEDA), he emphasized that expressways are not merely roads but the arteries of the state’s future economy.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the construction of the Ganga Expressway is completed by December this year, stressing that the project must be finished within the stipulated time frame to strengthen connectivity between the western and eastern regions of the state. He also instructed for weekly progress reviews of all ongoing projects, with strict adherence to quality standards.
Detailed discussions were held on the proposed Meerut–Haridwar Link Expressway, Noida–Jewar Link Expressway, Chitrakoot–Rewa Link Expressway, and the Vindhya Expressway and Vindhya–Purvanchal Link Expressway, which will extend connectivity to Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Chandauli, and Sonbhadra. The Chief Minister directed that while planning new expressways, due consideration must be given to the network proposed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure an integrated and coordinated road infrastructure, avoiding duplication of routes.
Highlighting the importance of skill development, CM Yogi instructed officials to establish Skill Development Centres at all six Defence Industrial Corridor nodes — Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Aligarh, and Chitrakoot. These centres, he said, would provide technical training to local youth, linking them to employment opportunities in the defence manufacturing sector and boosting regional self-reliance.
Officials informed that the Defence Corridor has so far attracted investment proposals worth ₹30,819 crore, with 5,039 acres of land already acquired, and several companies having commenced operations. This is expected to significantly accelerate both employment generation and capital investment across the region.
Emphasizing transparent land use, the Chief Minister stated that if the allotted land is not utilized by investors within three years, such allocations will be automatically cancelled. He directed authorities to implement a transparent land-use monitoring system and extend further facilities only based on verified progress.
The meeting also reviewed UPIEDA’s plans to attract industrial investment along expressway corridors by developing industrial clusters and logistics parks with provisions for electricity, water supply, truck terminals, and emergency healthcare facilities.
With the completion of major expressway projects and the expansion of industrial infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh is poised to become a leading hub for logistics, manufacturing, and defence production — driving the next phase of the state’s economic growth.
