Lucknow: Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh, has written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, requesting the construction of an elevated corridor over Shaheed Path in the state capital to address mounting traffic congestion and improve road safety.
In his letter, Rajnath Singh highlighted the strategic importance of Shaheed Path, which was conceived during the late 1990s and early 2000s as a key highway link connecting four major national highways—Lucknow-Kanpur, Kanpur-Rae Bareli, Lucknow-Sultanpur, and Lucknow-Ayodhya. The project was approved during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and later became one of Lucknow’s most significant transport corridors.
According to the letter, the city’s 1981 Master Plan had earmarked only a four-lane corridor for the 24-kilometre-long link road. However, with rapid urbanisation over the past two decades, extensive residential and commercial development has taken place along both sides of Shaheed Path, contributing significantly to the expansion of the city and generating substantial economic activity and employment opportunities.
The communication notes that Lucknow’s population has nearly doubled from around 22 lakh in 2001 to approximately 45 lakh at present. During the same period, the number of registered vehicles in the city has surged from about five lakh to nearly 29 lakh. This sharp increase has resulted in a severe imbalance between vehicular density and available road surface area, leading to persistent traffic jams and a rise in serious road accidents.
Rajnath Singh described Shaheed Path as the city’s principal north-south traffic artery and a vital transportation lifeline. He pointed out that traffic volume on the corridor is expected to continue growing in the coming years, making the development of an elevated corridor an urgent necessity.
The MP also recommended that special attention be given to traffic management at the Kisan Path–High Court intersection, where a “cloverleaf” interchange could be incorporated into the project design to facilitate smoother traffic movement and eliminate frequent bottlenecks.
The letter further recalled that during the inauguration of a flyover at Bhitauli Crossing on the Sitapur Highway, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had himself expressed concern over recurring traffic congestion and accidents on Shaheed Path, and had acknowledged the need for an elevated corridor to address these issues.
Emphasising the limitations of conventional road widening, Rajnath Singh noted that the availability of additional land along the existing corridor is extremely limited, making horizontal expansion difficult. In view of these constraints, he urged the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed elevated corridor and proceed with its construction at the earliest. He said the project would ensure smoother, safer and more efficient transportation for the residents of Lucknow and adjoining districts.
The proposal, if approved, could emerge as one of the most significant urban infrastructure projects in Lucknow in recent years, offering long-term relief from congestion on one of the city’s busiest and most critical transport corridors.
