New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the 594-km long access-controlled Greenfield Ganga Expressway in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, describing it as a major milestone in the state’s infrastructure expansion and broader development journey. He highlighted the cultural and spiritual significance of the region, noting its deep connection with Maa Ganga and describing the area as a sacred landscape shaped by the river’s presence.
During the event, he linked the expressway project with both heritage and modern development, suggesting that improved connectivity in Uttar Pradesh reflected the blessings associated with the Ganga. He also said that such modern infrastructure projects symbolised India’s growing pace of development and pointed to them as indicators of the country’s future direction.
Modi also referred to his recent visits along the Ganga belt, from Bengal to Kashi, framing them as moments where spiritual geography and infrastructure growth converged. He welcomed the state government’s decision to name the expressway after Maa Ganga, calling it a reflection of India’s developmental vision combined with its cultural identity, according to an official statement.
According to him, the expressway was completed in less than five years and represented the country’s longest greenfield expressway corridor, which he described as an example of accelerated governance and execution speed.
Stretching across western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the corridor connects key economic, agricultural, and cultural regions across 12 districts. He said it would function as more than a transport route, calling it a gateway to new economic opportunities, aspirations, and mobility.
He also stressed its expected impact on agriculture, noting that farmers in the region had long faced challenges in reaching larger markets due to limited logistics and cold storage infrastructure. Improved connectivity, he indicated, would help increase farmers’ income by easing access to trade networks.
The prime minister further highlighted that the expressway would enhance regional integration, bringing the National Capital Region closer and encouraging new industrial development along its route. Industrial corridors are being developed in districts such as Hardoi, with focus areas including pharmaceuticals, textiles, handlooms, leather, and handicrafts, aimed at boosting employment for youth.
He referred to schemes such as Mudra Yojana and ODOP, saying they were strengthening MSMEs and small industries, and added that better transport infrastructure would help local products reach both domestic and international markets, thereby increasing household incomes.
