PM Modi inaugurates 296-km Bundelkhand Expressway; to improve connectivity & give economic boost

Jalaun, July 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present on the occasion.

The 296 km four-lane Expressway has been built at a cost of Rs 14,850 crore; it will give a major boost to connectivity and industrial development in the region.

The expressway extends from NH-35 at Gonda, near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot to Kudrail village in Etawah district, where it merges with Agra-Lucknow Expressway. The 4-lane expressway, which can be later expanded into 6 lanes, passes through seven districts - Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.

The Modi government has focused on connectivity and infrastructure. The budgetary allocation of Rs 1.99 lakh crore for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Budget 2022-23 is the highest ever.

This is a jump of over 550% when compared to the allocation of about Rs. 30,300 crore in 2013-14. In the last seven years, the length of National Highways in the country has gone up by more than 50% from 91,287 km (as on April 2014) to around 1,41,000 km (as on December 31, 2021).

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The foundation stone for the construction of the Bundelkhand Expressway was laid by the PM on February 29, 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months.

The 296 km, 4-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of Rs 14,850 crore, under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

On the occasion, PM Modi said, "The expressway will ensure seamless connectivity and further economic progress in region. With this expressway, there will be an industrial boom in the region. It is the Modi and Yogi govt, we will take development not just to cities but to villages."