Purvanchal Expressway

Summary

Purvanchal Expressway[1] is a 340.8 km long, 6-lane wide (expandable to 8) access-controlled expressway in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.[2][3] The expressway connects Chand Saray village near Gosainganj in Lucknow district with Haydaria village on NH-31 in Ghazipur district. It is developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). The Purvanchal Expressway has a 3.2 km long airstrip at Akhalkiri Karwat village near Kurebhar in Sultanpur district for emergency landing of aircraft.[4] The construction work was started by the UPEIDA on 10 October 2018 and was inaugurated and opened to the public on 16 November 2021.[5][6]

Purvanchal Expressway
Purvanchal Expressway in redE-mZbncVIAQ8VAA.jpg
A section of Purvanchal Expressway
Route information
Maintained by Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)
Length211.8 mi (340.9 km)
Existed16 November 2021–present
Major junctions
West endChand Saray village, Lucknow district
East endHaydaria village, NH-31, Ghazipur district
Location
CountryIndia
StateUttar Pradesh
Highway system
State Highways in Uttar Pradesh

The project was announced and laid down by the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav as Lucknow-Azamgarh-Ballia Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway in May 2015.[7][8] Later, route was changed to Lucknow-Azamgarh-Ghazipur by the Yogi Adityanath government, and upon acquisition of around 95% of required land, foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway was laid on 14 July 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[9][10][11][12][13][14] With a total project value of 22,494 crore, including the land acquisition cost, the Expressway was India's longest expressway at the time of completion.[15][16]

The expressway is to be linked with VaranasiAzamgarh highway through a separate link road. UPEIDA is also constructing the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, which will connect Jaitpur village in Gorakhpur district with Purvanchal Expressway at Salarpur village in Azamgarh district. Upon the completion of 17 km long, 4-lane wide Buxar–Ghazipur Elevated Road (Bharauli near Buxar to Haydaria in Ghazipur), Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh will be directly connected to Buxar, Arrah and Patna in Bihar by Purvanchal Expressway and NH-922.[17][18]

5 industrial corridors will be set up alongside Purvanchal Expressway. As on Nov., 2023, the land has been identified and process for bainama is underway.

Route edit

The Purvanchal Expressway connects Chand Saray village near Gosainganj in Lucknow district with Haydaria village on MohammadabadBuxar highway (NH-31) in Ghazipur district. It passes through 9 districts of Uttar Pradesh i.e. (from west to east) Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur.

Entry/ Exits edit

The following entry/exit points are present in the expressway:[19]

Chainage Intersecting Road No Details of the Intersecting Road Project Structure
-0+270 NH 56 (NH731) National Highway NH56/731 Trumpet Interchange
36+870 SH 13 Haidergarh - Barabanki Road Slip Roads with toll booth
58+380 SH 31 Inhauna - Rudauli Road Slip Roads with toll booth
81+900 SH 15 Raebareli - Faizabad Road Interchange with Toll Plaza
121+860 SH 9 Sultanpur - Faizabad Road Interchange with Toll Plaza
138+150 NH 232 (NH-128) Sultanpur - Akbarpur Road Interchange with Toll Plaza
161 MDR 113E Akbarpur - Dostpur Road slip Roads with Toll booth
182+360 SH 5 Akbarpur - Jaunpur Road Slip Roads with toll booth
191 TRUMPET INTERCHANGE Gorakhpur Link Expressway ENTRY AND EXIT POINT
203 SH 124 AHIRAULA-BUDHANPUR ROAD SLIPS ROAD WITH TOLL BOOTH
234+650 NH 233 (NH-28) Azamgarh - Tanda Road Interchange with Toll Plaza
253+850 SH 34 Azamgarh - Mau Road Slip Roads with toll booth
294+200 SH 34 Mau - Ghazipur Road Interchange with Toll Plaza
329+500 Ballia Link Ballia Link Road (future) Slip Roads with toll booth
340+500 NH 19 (NH-31) National Highway Road NH19 Trumpet Interchange

Construction edit

The UPEIDA divided the construction work of 340.8 km long Purvanchal Expressway into 8 packages, which were awarded to 5 different contractors.[20] The design work was done by Egis India Consulting Engineers (Package 1 to 4) and Ayesa India (Package 5 to 8).

22 Flyovers, 7 Railway-over-bridges (ROB), 7 major bridges, 114 minor bridges, 6 Toll Plazas, 45 vehicular-underpasses (VUP), 139 Light VUP, 87 pedestrian underpass and 525 Box culverts has been constructed.[21] Total construction cost (excluding the cost of Land) is around 11,216 crores.

Following is the list of contractors:

Sr. No. Package Length in km Contractor
1. Chand Saray (Lucknow)–Sansara (Barabanki) 40.4 Gayatri Projects[22]
2. Sansara (Barabanki)–Jarai Kalan (Amethi) 39.7 Gayatri Projects
3. Jarai Kalan (Amethi)–Siddhi Ganeshpur (Sultanpur) 41.7 Apco Infratech
4. Siddhi Ganeshpur (Sultanpur)–Sansarpur (Sultanpur) 42.7 GR Infraprojects
5. Sansarpur (Sultanpur)–Govindpur (Azamgarh) 54.0 PNC Infratech[23]
6. Govindpur (Azamgarh)–Mojrapur (Azamgarh) 28.2 PNC Infratech
7. Mojrapur (Azamgarh)–Bijaura (Ghazipur) 46.0 GR Infraprojects
8. Bijaura (Ghazipur)–Haydaria (Ghazipur) 48.0 Oriental Structural Engineers

Inauguration edit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the inauguration site in the C-130 Hercules and later touch and go exercise was also performed on the expressway by the Indian Air Force (IAF).[24][25] Indian Air Force fighter jets performed the 'touch and go' operation, under which 30 fighter planes touched the Purvanchal expressway airstrip and then took off. Fighter jets including Mirage 2000, AN-32, Jaguar, and Sukhoi performed touch and go operations and showcased a landing on the expressway. The Indian aircraft showcased tricolor in the sky.[26]

Delhi–Lucknow–Patna connectivity edit

The Purvanchal Expressway is a part of Government of Uttar Pradesh's initiative to connect Lucknow with Ghazipur in order to improve transportation facilities and trade & commerce activities in East UP and Bihar.[27][28] Upon the completion of 4-lane wide Buxar–Ghazipur Elevated Road (Bharauli near Buxar to Haydaria in Ghazipur), people can also travel from New Delhi to Patna in Bihar via Agra and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh by using following route:

Sr. No. Name of Road from to Distance in km
1 DND Flyway New Delhi Noida 6.0
2 Noida–Greater Noida Expressway Noida Greater Noida 24.5
3 Yamuna Expressway Greater Noida Agra 165.5
4 Agra Ring Road Kuberpur (Agra) Hingot Kheria (Agra) ~10
5 Agra–Lucknow Expressway Agra Lucknow 302.2
6 Lucknow Ring Road Sarosa Bharosa (Lucknow) Chand Saray (Lucknow) 40
7 Purvanchal Expressway Lucknow Ghazipur 340.8
8 Ghazipur–Buxar Elevated Road Ghazipur Buxar 17.0
9 Buxar–Arrah–Patna (NH-922) Buxar Patna 125.0

Note: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on 28 August 2021 that the Government of India will construct GhazipurArrahPatna Expressway at an event in Arrah, Bihar.[29][30]

Status updates edit

  • May 2015: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announces intention to take up the Lucknow-Ballia Expressway soon.[31]
  • Oct 2015: Government of UP finalized the alignment out of three proposed alignment for expressway. Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be prepared in three months.[32]
  • Nov 2015: The Lucknow–Azamgarh–Ballia Expressway renamed as Purvanchal Expressway.[33]
  • Feb 2016: State Government allocated ₹1,500 crores for the expressway in the budget.[34]
  • Dec 2016: Akhilesh Yadav, then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh lays foundation stone of Lucknow-Azamgarh-Ballia Expressway on 22 December 2016.[35][36][37][38][39]
  • Mar 2017: Yogi Adityanath of BJP became the new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 19 March 2017.
  • May 2017: Yogi Adityanath government cancels tenders issued by the previous Akhilesh Yadav government, stating that currently only 40.17% of needed land is acquired. The fresh tenders will be issued, when at least 80% of the required land will be acquired.[40] UP Government orders faster land acquisition.[41]
  • Sep 2017: 60% land acquired at cost of ₹4,500 crore. Total land acquisition may cost up to ₹6,500 crore. NITI Aayog says the Central Government may bear construction cost, if UP government bears the land acquisition cost.[42]
  • Jan 2018: 85% land acquisition done, foundation stone to be laid in March 2018.[43]
  • Apr 2018: 91% land acquired. Request for Proposal (RFP) document floated.[44]
  • Jul 2018: On 14 July 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway (Lucknow-Azamgarh-Ghazipur Expressway) at Azamgarh.[12][45][3] Tender awarded for road construction to 5 firms for 8 packages.[20]
  • Oct 2018: Construction work started on 10 October for Package 2 to 8.[46]
  • Nov 2018: Construction work started by Gayatri Projects on 24 November for Package-1.
  • Feb 2019: The Government of Uttar Pradesh allocated ₹1,194 crores in UP Budget 2019.
  • Jun 2019: Government of Uttar Pradesh saves ₹620 crore in bidding process for Purvanchal Expressway.[47] 10% of construction work has been completed.
  • Jul 2019: Proposal to extend the Purvanchal Expressway to Ballia.[48]
  • Sep 2019: 97% of earth work completed. To check the progress of construction work without physical inspection, UPEIDA to launch mobile app soon.[49]
  • Oct 2019: 20% of construction work is completed.[50]
  • Apr 2020: Work resumed after being on-hold for nearly a month due to COVID-19.[51]
  • Aug 2020: 52% of construction work completed, as of 10 August.[52]
  • Jun 2021: 90% of construction work and 928 out of total 934 structures completed as of 28 June.[53]
  • Jul 2021: 95% of construction work and 930 out of total 934 structures completed as of 26 July. The deadline for construction work is October 2021.[54]
  • Aug 2021: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on 28 August 2021 that the Government of India will construct GhazipurArrahPatna Expressway at an event in Arrah, Bihar.
  • Sep 2021: On 10 September, CM Yogi Adityanath confirmed to inaugurate the expressway in October 2021.[55] 97% of construction work completed as of 20 September.[56]
  • Nov 2021: The expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 November at an event in Sultanpur district.[57][58]
  • May 2022: Toll collection starts at all Toll Plazas with effect from 1 May 2022.

Controversies and Criticism edit

The first seasonal rains in October 2022 caused wide stretches of road caving deep in, some extending to even 15 feet deep. Accidents were reported at several places, with multiple injuries and damage to numerous cars garnering significant coverage in media. The much proclaimed dream project of Yogi Adityanath, built over a whopping 22000 crore expense by the Yogi government and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2021, faced subsequent backlash and criticism for the alleged irregularities and corruption in construction of the expressway which couldn't withstand the first few hours of rain within a year following its inauguration.[59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway Inauguration Live Updates: पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे की सौगात देकर बोले PM मोदी- सोचा नहीं था इस पर खुद विमान से उतरूंगा". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway to be backbone of eastern UP economy: Yogi Adityanath". India Today. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b "PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway worth Rs 23,300 cr in UP's Azamgarh". Zee News. 14 July 2018.
  4. ^ "PM to inaugurate this UP expressway with an airstrip for fighter planes". The New Indian Express. 12 November 2021.
  5. ^ "आज 340 KM लंबे पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेसवे का उद्घाटन करेंगे PM मोदी, देखें 100 खबरें". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ^ "सुल्तानपुर: प्रधानमंत्री 16 नवंबर को करेंगे पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे का लोकार्पण, तैयारियों में जुटे अधिकारी". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  7. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Purvanchal expressway". India Today. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016.
  8. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway". The Times of India. 22 December 2016.
  9. ^ "PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone for India's longest Purvanchal Expressway in UP's Azamgarh". DNA India. 14 July 2018.
  10. ^ "PM Modi lays foundation stone of 340 km long Purvanchal Expressway". The Indian Express. 14 July 2018.
  11. ^ "PM lays foundation stone for Purvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh". The Times of India. 15 July 2018.
  12. ^ a b "PM lays Foundation Stone for Purvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh". Press Information Bureau. 14 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway to take UP to great heights: PM Modi". ANI News. 14 July 2018.
  14. ^ "PM Modi lays foundation stone of 340 km-long Purvanchal Expressway". DD News. 15 July 2018.
  15. ^ "22,500 करोड़ की लागत, 341 KM लंबाई, पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे का उद्घाटन आज". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Details of Purvanchal Expressway project and updated status". UPEIDA. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Nitish Kumar urges Centre to extend Purvanchal Expressway till Buxar". Business Standard. 21 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Bihar: New Koilwar Bridge may open for traffic this month". Times of India. 5 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Traffic, Toll & Financial Studies - Purvanchal Expressway" (PDF). UPEIDA. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Five firms bag Purvanchal Expressway projects". Financial Express. 11 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Details of Purvanchal Expressway by Project Monitoring Group (PMG)" (PDF). UPEIDA. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Gayatri Projects Ltd bags Rs 2,759 crores worth road projects in UP". The Economic Times. 20 July 2018.
  23. ^ "PNC Infratech bags 2 EPC packages of Purvanchal Expressway for Rs 2,520 crores". Business Standard. 9 July 2018.
  24. ^ "पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस वे: हरक्यूलिस प्लेन पर सवार होकर उद्घाटन करने पहुंचेंगे मोदी, देखें प्लान". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  25. ^ "अब यूपी के पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेसवे पर उतरेंगे लड़ाकू विमान, 'टच एंड गो' के लिए पहुंचे 3 फाइटर जेट". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Video: पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे का उद्घाटन, आसमान में फाइटर प्लेन का शक्ति‍ प्रदर्शन". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Government committed to improving the road network in Bihar". Times of India. 1 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Highway projects worth Rs 30,000 crores underway in Bihar: Nitin Gadkari". HT Mint. 10 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Ghazipur-Arrah-Patna Greenfield Expressway soon: Nitin Gadkari". The Times of India. 29 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Arrah to be connected by Ghazipur-Patna Greenfield Expressway". Hindustan. 29 August 2021.
  31. ^ Mishra, Subhash (22 May 2015). "Chinese show interest in Lucknow-Ballia expressway". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  32. ^ "UP finalises alignment for Lucknow-Ballia Expressway". The Times of India. 6 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Govt renames Lucknow-Ballia expressway after Purvanchal". The Times of India. 3 November 2015.
  34. ^ "Uttar Pradesh State Budget 2016-17 presented". Dainik Jagran. 19 February 2016.
  35. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Purvanchal expressway". India Today. 22 December 2016.
  36. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway". The Times of India. 22 December 2016.
  37. ^ "CM lays foundation of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway". The Pioneer. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  38. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway". India Today. 22 December 2016.
  39. ^ "UP CM lays foundation of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway". Business Standard. 22 December 2016.
  40. ^ "पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेस-वे का टेंडर रद्द, एसपी सरकार ने दी थी मंजूरी". Navbharat Times. 1 June 2017.
  41. ^ "Yogi govt speeds up Akhilesh's pet Lucknow-Ballia Purvanchal Expressway". Business Standard. 9 May 2017.
  42. ^ "For cash-starved Uttar Pradesh, Centre to fund Ayodhya-Kashi link". The Times of India. 12 September 2017.
  43. ^ "लखनऊ से गाजीपुर जाना होगा आसान, 19 मार्च को एक्‍सप्रेस-वे का शिलान्‍यास". Navbharat Times. 27 January 2018.
  44. ^ "UP Govt has approved RFP for construction of Purvanchal Expressway". The Pioneer. 18 April 2018.
  45. ^ "Modi to lay foundation of Purvanchal Expressway". The Hindu. 14 July 2018.
  46. ^ "पूर्वाचल एक्सप्रेस-वे का निर्माण कार्य शुरू". Dainik Jagran. 11 October 2018.
  47. ^ "UP Government saves Rs 620 cr in bidding process for Purvanchal Expressway". Business Standard India. 3 June 2019.
  48. ^ "Poorvanchal Expressway will now extend to Ballia". The Times of India. 7 June 2019.
  49. ^ "E-way updates: UPEIDA app to tell you real time progress". The Times of India. 15 September 2019.
  50. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway: 20% work done, main carriageway to be opened by 2020 end". United News of India. 30 October 2019.
  51. ^ "UP: Work resumes on key expressways". The Times of India. 21 April 2020.
  52. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway to be completed by January 2021". United News of India. 10 August 2020.
  53. ^ "Progress Report of Purvanchal Expressway (June 2021)" (PDF). UPEIDA. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  54. ^ "Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi to inaugurate 340 km long Purvanchal Expressway next month". Hindustan Times. 1 July 2021.
  55. ^ "पूर्वांचल एक्सप्रेसवे का लोकार्पण अक्टूबर में". Hindustan (in Hindi). Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  56. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway construction Update" (PDF). Upeida. 20 September 2021.
  57. ^ Abhishek Mishra (15 November 2021). "PM Modi to inaugurate Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Nov 16". India Today. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  58. ^ "PM Modi inaugurated 340 KM-long Purvanchal Expressway". Amar Ujala. 16 November 2021.
  59. ^ "15 feet pothole in Purvanchal Expressway". Aaj Tak. 22 October 2022.
  60. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway collapses". NBT. 7 October 2022.
  61. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway road cave-in". Hindustan. 7 October 2022.
  62. ^ "Purvanchal Expressway caves in within one year of inauguration". Jansatta. 7 October 2022.
  63. ^ "Potholes in rain on Purvanchal Expressway". Aaj Tak. 7 October 2022.
  64. ^ "Many injured after getting stuck in potholes at Purvanchal Expressway". Jagran. 8 October 2022.
  65. ^ "Portion of expressway caves in at Sultanpur". The Indian Express. 7 October 2022.
  66. ^ "Portion of Purvanchal Expressway caves in, Opposition attacks". Times Now. 7 October 2022.

External links edit

  • https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11590441
  • Gayatri Projects
  • Apco Infratech
  • GR Infraprojects
  • PNC Infratech
  • Oriental Structural Engineers