Lucknow – Uttar Pradesh is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in transport and connectivity under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of Viksit UP @2047. Over the past eight and a half years, the state has fast-tracked infrastructure projects that have turned it into a national and international hub for investment, logistics, and development.
Before 2017: Slow Progress, Limited Reach
Until 2017, the pace of infrastructure growth in UP was sluggish. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, rural road length rose only marginally from 51,549 km in 2013-14 to 56,846 km in 2016-17. Air connectivity was also limited, with only three expressways and a handful of airports in operation. Passenger growth between 1999 and 2016 was just 5.5 million in 17 years.
After 2017: Roads to the Sky
Since 2017, the Yogi government has adopted an integrated approach to road, air, and water transport. Rural road length has now expanded to 77,425 km by 2024-25. With 22 operational and under-construction expressways, UP is now recognized as the “Expressway State” of India. The Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Yamuna, Agra–Lucknow, and Gorakhpur Link Expressways have significantly strengthened connectivity, while new projects such as the Ganga, Vindhya, and Jevar Link Expressways are under way.
Highways and Expressways: A Logistics Revolution
The state’s national highway network has more than doubled from 5,599 km in 2004-05 to 12,292 km in 2023-24. This expansion has reduced freight costs, boosted trade, and established Uttar Pradesh as a strategic transit hub in North India.
Air Connectivity: Soaring to New Heights
In aviation, UP has made a historic leap. From having just a few airports pre-2017, the state now has 16 airports (12 domestic and 4 international), with five more under construction. Passenger traffic has surged dramatically, with numbers expected to reach 14.2 million in 2025, compared to just a 5.5 million increase over the 17 years before 2017. The upcoming Jewar International Airport is poised to become Asia’s largest, cementing UP’s role as a major cargo and transit hub.
Vision 2030 and Beyond
Looking ahead, the government is focusing on expanding north–south connectivity by 2030, ensuring that all district headquarters are linked by expressways. Plans are also in place for multi-purpose transit hubs near the Nepal border, world-class ropeways at tourist sites, and air cargo hubs across the state.
Vision 2047: One Division, One Airport
CM Yogi has pledged that by 2047 every division in UP will have its own world-class airport. All 75 districts will be connected by expressways and air networks, supported by green smart highways, helipads, and a modern aviation ecosystem.
Through these ambitious projects, Uttar Pradesh is not only racing ahead in connectivity but also shaping itself into a global center of trade, transport, and investment.
