Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 341 km Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. He landed at the venue on the highway airstrip in an (Indian Air Force) IAF C-130 Hercules plane.
In his speech, PM Modi described how the Purvanchal Expressway will boost the development not just in the region, but in the entire state. “Those who have any doubt on capabilities of UP, on capabilities of people of UP should come to Sultanpur today to witness their capability. Such a modern expressway has now come up where it was just a piece of land three to four years back,” PM Modi said.
He added, “When I laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway three years back, I had never thought that I will land here on an aircraft one day. It is also a fact that a vast state like UP was earlier cut off from within to a great extent. This expressway is bridging this gap and connecting the people of UP.”
He also spoke about the Kushinagar International airport, inaugurated recently. “Just a few weeks back, I inaugurated the International Airport at Kushinagar and today I have the privilege of handing over the Purvanchal Expressway to you. It will benefit the poor as well as the middle class.
This greenfield expressway has its starting point at Chand Sarai village, located near the existing Lucknow-Sultanpur Road (NH-731) in Lucknow district. Its ending point is near village Hyderia on NH-19 in Ghazipur district, about 18 km before the UP-Bihar border. It has a service road, toll plazas on the carriageway at the beginning and endpoints of the expressway, ramp plazas, with facilities such as police vehicles, cattle catcher vehicles and ambulances deployed.
This fully access-controlled six-lane expressway can be upgraded to eight lanes. The districts falling on the expressway are Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur.
Access to the expressway has been provided at 13 locations through the interchange facility. It provides benefits like fuel-saving, time-saving and control in pollution levels, along with the reduction in accidents.
Already, small establishments have started coming up at ramp plazas, mid-way stoppage points to cater to the travellers. Both the passengers and residents of areas adjacent to the expressway are awe-struck at the marvel of road engineering which was completed well before the stipulated deadline.
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The exciting air show by Indian Air Force fighter aircraft and their landing on the 3.2-km airstrip in Sultanpur on the inauguration event brought thrills for the people gathered there. In the coming days, many establishments such as educational institutions, townships and other commercial outlets are likely to come up near the expressway areas. These activities will result in the creation of more employment opportunities in the region.
The Purvanchal Expressway getting connected with the existing Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Agra-Noida Yamuna Expressway will become a vast industrial corridor connecting the eastern border of the state with the western border resulting in the overall development of the state.