New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh is set to significantly enhance its vital Agra-Lucknow Expressway, a crucial artery connecting two major cities. The state government has greenlit a project to expand the expressway from six to eight lanes, entrusting the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) with the undertaking. This expansion, along with planned safety upgrades, aims to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents.
The project, which has an allocated budget of Rs 1939 crore for the next five years, will encompass several key improvements. These include the widening of the expressway itself—the existing structure reportedly already incorporates eight-lane-wide foundations, facilitating this expansion, according to an earlier report. Crucially, the project will prioritise safety enhancements.
Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh’s November 29th inspection of the expressway, following a similar inspection by Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand, led to recommendations for improvements including marking accident-prone areas, installing speed governors and increasing the number of surveillance cameras. These measures, along with plans to rebuild lanes frequently damaged by overloaded vehicles, aim to significantly reduce accidents.
The upgrades will include the installation of speed governors to regulate vehicle speed and the deployment of speed laser guns for automated over-speeding detection. Furthermore, to curb reckless driving under the influence, the authorities intend to revoke the driving licenses of those found consuming alcohol on the expressway. Supporting the transition to electric vehicles, the project will also include the construction of charging stations across the expressway.
Rajesh Pandey, the Nodal Officer at UPEIDA, highlighted that safety is paramount. This commitment is reflected not only in infrastructure upgrades but also in stricter enforcement measures. The selection process for the firm responsible for carrying out the renovations is underway, with work expected to commence this month.
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway, inaugurated on February 23, 2017, is a 302 km long, six-lane expressway. It connects Agra and Lucknow, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities to approximately three hours. The expressway also connects with the Yamuna Expressway, creating a broader network of high-speed roadways across the state. The proposed upgrades will further enhance the expressway’s efficiency, safety, and overall contribution to Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructure.
