Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 16, inaugurated the 341-km-long Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.
The completion of the project is significant as it connects the state capital Lucknow to the easternmost district of UP, Ghazipur, improving the connectivity for more than ten districts along the way.
The travel time between Lucknow and Ghazipur will now be 3.5 hours instead of 6.
The inauguration ceremony, marked by a dazzling air show by the Indian Air Force, was held in Sultanpur district.
The Expressway has a 3.2 km long Emergency landing field that can be used when required. Prime Minister Modi himself arrived at the venue in a C-130 Hercules plane that landed on the Expressway.
The Prime Minister was received by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel.
The project cost nearly 22,500 Crore Rupees. Although announced by the previous Samajwadi Party government, the foundation was laid by Prime Minister Modi in 2018.
Speaking on occasion, Mr. Modi called the expressway, the expressway for UP’s development. He said the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh is now being prioritized on equal footing with the western UP.
The inauguration comes just three months ahead of the state assembly elections.