Uttar Pradesh is preparing to build its largest expressway, a 700-km six-lane project that will surpass the 570-km Ganga Expressway from Meerut to Prayagraj. Designed as a greenfield project, the Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway will cut travel time between eastern and western Uttar Pradesh to just six hours, transforming regional connectivity.

The expressway will pass through 22 districts and 37 tehsils, bringing faster travel and significant economic benefits, including higher land values for farmers and employment opportunities during and after construction. A drone survey to map the route is expected to begin this month.

Once complete, the road will be the second major east–west connector in the state. The project will shorten the Gorakhpur–Shamli distance by around 200 km, with solar power meeting all operational energy needs. Travel from Gorakhpur to Haridwar, which currently takes over 12 hours, will be reduced to about eight hours.

The route will cover key districts including Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharth Nagar, Balrampur, Bahraich, Sitapur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Bijnor, Amroha, Saharanpur, Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Rampur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Sambhal, Meerut, and Shamli.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), with land surveys already completed in several districts. The project is expected to cost Rs 350 billion, including land acquisition, and will mark a major milestone in Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructure development.