Shajahanpur (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inspected the newly built 3.5-km airstrip on the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur.
This is the country’s first airstrip where fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will be able to conduct landings and take-offs both during the day and night, a UP government statement said.
The facility will also serve as a practice ground for fighter planes, significantly strengthening operational readiness, the state government said.
Uttar Pradesh currently has four expressways that feature among the top 10 expressways in terms of length in India. Once the Ganga Expressway becomes operational, the state will have five of the top 10 expressways in the country. This expressway will connect the state from east to west through 518 villages in 12 districts.
After the expressway opens, the distance from Meerut to Prayagraj via Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Pratapgarh will be covered in just a few hours. The Ganga Expressway will start from Bijauli village on Meerut-Bulandshahr (NH 334) and end near Judapur Dadu village on NH 19) in Prayagraj.
The expressway is being built on 7467 hectares of land at an estimated cost of Rs 36,230 crore.
Big planes will be able to land, two long bridges will be built on the Ganga and Ramganga.
The Ganga Expressway will initially have six lanes, with a proposal to expand it to eight lanes later. Its design allows for a speed of 120 kilometres per hour.
Nine public amenities complexes will be developed along the expressway at various locations for public convenience. Two main toll plazas (Meerut and Prayagraj) are planned, while ramp toll plazas are proposed at 15 locations.
Additionally, two large bridges will be built over the Ganga River (960 meters) and the Ramganga River (720 meters). Furthermore, a 3.50-kilometre-long airstrip will be constructed near the Jalalabad tehsil in Shahjahanpur.
