The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved four expressway projects aimed at strengthening the state's road network, including two link expressways to connect the Agra-Lucknow Expressway with the Purvanchal and Ganga expressways. The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and included approval of the revised and final request for proposal for the link projects and clearance of alignments for the Vindhya Expressway and the Vindhya-Purvanchal Spur Link.

The first link is a 50.98 km greenfield corridor that will be developed as a six-lane access-controlled expressway, expandable to eight lanes in future, under the engineering, procurement and construction model. It is estimated to cost Rs 47,758.4 million (mn) and will directly connect the Agra-Lucknow Expressway with the Purvanchal Expressway. Design allows later expansion to accommodate traffic.

The second link will be a 90.84 km six-lane greenfield corridor, expandable to eight lanes, connecting the Agra-Lucknow Expressway with the Ganga Expressway via Farrukhabad at an estimated cost of Rs 74,887.4 mn. With these approvals, link expressway projects exceeding Rs 122,640 mn were cleared for implementation. The statement said the tendering process will begin shortly and selected agencies must complete construction within 36 months and maintain the roads for five years.

The projects are designed to integrate the Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal and Ganga expressways into a seamless grid to facilitate faster, safer and more efficient long distance travel while reducing travel time and fuel consumption and boosting economic activity. Authorities said the network will support regional development by improving connectivity and reducing logistics costs. Planning emphasises scalability and maintenance to ensure corridor longevity.

The cabinet also approved alignment of the six-lane Vindhya Expressway, expandable to eight lanes, at an estimated cost of Rs 263,150 mn, which will improve connectivity to Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts. It cleared the Vindhya-Purvanchal Spur Link option one, a project estimated at Rs 90,390 mn, which will connect Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Chandauli and further enhance road connectivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Agencies will proceed to finalise technical and environmental clearances as part of next steps.