Uttar Pradesh has strengthened its position as India’s leading expressway state with 45 greenfield expressway projects worth nearly ₹1.23 lakh crore in different stages of planning and construction. The massive road network aims to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and accelerate economic growth across the state.
Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway to Improve East India Connectivity
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Centre will build the Gorakhpur-Siliguri Greenfield Expressway at an estimated cost of about ₹32,000 crore. The expressway will run through UP, Bihar, and West Bengal, creating a faster corridor between eastern UP and North Bengal. The project will also improve access to the Northeast and areas near the Nepal border.
Faster Travel and Better Logistics
The upcoming expressway will stretch for more than 500 kilometres and allow vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 120 kmph. Officials expect the project to cut travel time between Gorakhpur and Siliguri from nearly 15 hours to around 6–8 hours. The highway will ease freight movement, lower logistics costs, and support trade and tourism across the region.
Major Push for Development
The greenfield expressway network forms part of the Centre’s broader infrastructure strategy to improve national connectivity. These projects will link industrial clusters, agricultural regions, and urban centres with modern access-controlled highways. Better road infrastructure will also create new opportunities for investment, employment, and regional development in UP and neighbouring states. UP under the double-engine government has become the expressway Pradesh of India.
