PM Modi unveils 594-km Ganga Expressway: Why it is a game-changer for Uttar Pradesh

Beginning his address by paying tribute to the sacred land of Lord Narasimha and the divine presence of Maa Ganga flowing nearby, Modi said the entire region stands as a pilgrimage site blessed by the spiritual and nurturing grace of the river.

“The boon of expressways to Uttar Pradesh is also a blessing from Maa Ganga herself,” he said, highlighting how the expressway would transform travel to sacred destinations and significantly improve connectivity across the state.

Drawing a parallel between the timeless significance of Maa Ganga and modern infrastructure, the Prime Minister described the expressway as a symbol of both development and heritage.

“These newly constructed highways are the lifelines of a developing India. These modern lifelines are proclaiming the bright future of India,” Modi said.

He also welcomed the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to name the expressway after Maa Ganga, saying it reflected the vision of development rooted in India’s cultural heritage.

Emphasising the pace of infrastructure development, Modi noted that the Ganga Expressway — the country’s longest green corridor expressway — had been completed in less than five years.

“This is the speed of the current government’s work. This is the way the current government works,” he remarked.

Spanning nearly 600 kilometres, the expressway connects western Uttar Pradesh’s commercial hubs with central UP’s agricultural heartland and eastern UP’s cultural centres, directly benefiting crores of people across 12 districts.

“The Ganga Expressway is not merely a high-speed road. It is a gateway to new possibilities, new dreams and new opportunities,” Modi said.

Highlighting its impact on agriculture, the Prime Minister said farmers in these fertile regions had long struggled to access major markets due to poor logistics and inadequate cold storage infrastructure.

“This will increase our farmers’ income,” he said, adding that better connectivity would also bring the opportunities of the National Capital Region closer and help create new industrial corridors along the route.

He said districts like Hardoi were being developed as industrial hubs to attract manufacturing clusters in pharmaceuticals, textiles, handlooms, leather goods and handicrafts, generating employment opportunities for youth.

Praising schemes such as Mudra Yojana and One District One Product (ODOP), Modi said small industries and MSMEs were receiving a major boost.

“All these products will reach domestic and international markets on a large scale. This will increase the income of millions of families,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s rapid transformation from being once labelled a backward and BIMARU state to now moving towards becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

He said the state’s young population and industrial growth were key strengths in achieving this goal, with UP emerging as a major manufacturing hub.

“India is now the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer, and nearly half of that production happens in UP. UP has made a significant contribution to this,” Modi said.

He also pointed to the state’s growing role in semiconductor manufacturing, AI-driven industries and defence production, noting that one of India’s two defence corridors is located in Uttar Pradesh.

“UP’s industrial development is today becoming a strategic strength for India,” he said, citing the production of globally respected defence systems like BrahMos missiles.

Modi further underlined the state’s improved connectivity network, noting that Uttar Pradesh now has 21 operational airports, including five international airports, compared to very limited aviation infrastructure earlier.

Contrasting the present with the past, he said the state was once associated with crime and lawlessness but had now become an example of strong law and order.

“Today, UP’s law and order is cited as an example throughout the country,” he said.

Linking the state’s progress with the national vision of a developed India, Modi said Uttar Pradesh would play a crucial role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat.

“The entire country is moving forward with one resolve — the resolve for a Viksit Bharat. UP has a major role to play in fulfilling this resolve,” he said.

Despite global instability and external challenges, Modi said India remained committed to development, self-reliance and building world-class infrastructure.

“We are not only secure, but we are also creating new milestones of development. We are advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign and constructing the most modern infrastructure,” he said.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the people of Uttar Pradesh would turn the opportunities created by the Ganga Expressway into prosperity through their hard work and talent.