Construction of three major expressways in full swing
It’s a race against time as the lockdown has already delayed the Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Gorakhpur Link expressway projects
LUCKNOW: Construction work on three expressways -- Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Gorakhpur Link -- are on in full swing these days.
Over 10,000 labourers and a battery of engineers equipped with machines, heavy and light, are busy moving tonnes of soil, concrete, stone chips and bitumen to lay the surface of for the expressways in districts in east, central UP and Bundelkhand region.
“It’s a race against time for the state government as the lockdown has already delayed the projects. Conscious that the expressways will give momentum to industrial, business and agriculture activities, the state government had decided to restart the construction works on April 20 after Lockdown-1. Officers have been directed to implement Covid protocol strictly during the construction activities,” said industrial development minister Satish Mahana.
Majority of the land acquisition work has been completed for all the three expressways and now focus is on completing the projects fast, he said.
PURVANCHAL EXPRESSWAY
“The state government had decided to open the access controlled six-lane 340. 824 km Purvanchal expressway -- starting from Chand Sarai in Lucknow district to Hardia in Ghazipur district near UP-Bihar border -during Diwali festival this year. Now we have set the target of dedicating the expressway to the people in February-March next year,” he said.
The total cost of Purvanchal expressway is Rs 22,494.66 crore, including cost of the land. Rs 11,216 crore will be spent on civil construction works. The state government has sufficient funds for the project.
In October last year the contracts had been finalized with developers. The expressway will pass via Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur districts, Mahana said.
Till 1st of June, 48% of the work on Purvnachal expressway had been completed. It will connect the districts of east UP with Delhi via Agra-Lucknow expressway and Yamuna expressway. Along with saving time and fuel, the expressway will give thrust to economic activities, he said.
To generate employment, the state government has planned to set up industrial training institute, educational institutes, medical institutes, townships and commercial establishment to give boost to social and economic activities, Mahana said.
BUNDELKHAND EXPRESSWAY
Construction work on the fourlane (expandable to six lanes) Bundelkhand expressway is also on full swing, Mahana said and added that 21.70% of the soil work had been completed till May 31. The total estimated cost of the 296-km expressway is Rs 14,849 crore, he said.
Bundelkhand expressway, passing through Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun districts, will connect the national capital region via AgraLucknow expressway and Yamuna expressway. The state government plans to give fillip to agriculture, commercial, tourism and industrial activities along the expressway, he said.
GORAKHPUR LINK EXPRESSWAY
Mahana said construction work has also been expedited on the 91.352-km four-lane (expandable to six lanes) Gorakhpur Link expressway. Till 1st of June, 40% of clearing and grubbing works as well as 9% soil work had been completed.
The total estimate of the expressway is Rs 5,876 crore.
Starting from Jaitpur village in Gorakhpur district it will merge with Purvanchal expressway in Azamgarh district.
Along with industrial units and educational institutes, the state government plans to set up food processing, dairy and warehouses along the expressway, he said.
The government has tied up with banks to get Rs 9,275 crore loan for both the Bundelkhand and Gorakhpur Link expressway projects. “The banks have approved Rs 7,000 crore loan for the both projects and we will get the remaining loan soon,” he said. Mahana said the government has focused on strengthening the infrastructure to attract investment.
“Talks are going on with the private companies based in the country as well as foreign multinational companies. Officers are collecting regular feedback from the companies. The Covid pandemic has hit the economy across the globe and revival of production is major concern of all companies. We hope to attract investment once the situation normalises,” he said.