Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway: Several expressways are coming up in India in 2025, and among them is the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway, also known as the Awadh Expressway. It is a 6-lane expressway under construction and will likely open by June this year. Once the Expressway is opened, it will ease traffic in the cities and improve the city’s atmosphere. Kanpur Lucknow Expressway is a major project undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
This project is part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s broader development plans, which include other expressways like the Ganga, Bundelkhand, and Purvanchal Expressways. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved a budget of Rs 1,935 crore for this expressway’s construction. The construction of this expressway began in January 2022.
About Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway
The Lucknow Kanpur Expressway is a six-lane road that will connect the cities of Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. This 63 km expressway will cut travel time between these two cities in half. It connects Azad Chauraha near Kanpur’s Ganga Bridge to Shaheed Path in Lucknow. Also known as National Expressway 6 (NE-6), it received national highway status in December 2020 and is expected to open in 2025.
Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd created the detailed project report (DPR). The expressway was officially named National Expressway 6 in the Gazette of India in December 2020 after the foundation stone was laid in March 2019 and again on January 5, 2022. The expressway is expected to be finished and operational by 2025.
Expressway Route Map
The proposed length of the Kanpur Lucknow Expressway is 63 km. An 18 km elevated route and a 45 km new section will be built on undeveloped land. Currently, the distance between the two cities is 91 km. Most importantly, the travel time between these two cities will be reduced from 1.5 hours to 45 minutes.
Kanpur Lucknow Expressway Project Phases
The project will be built in two stages, Package 1 and Package 2, both with a 2.5-year deadline.
Phase 1 will cost approximately Rs 1675.18 crore. It involves creating a 6-lane, access-controlled expressway that connects Shaheed Path in Lucknow to Azad Chauraha, near the Ganga Bridge in Kanpur. This new road will run alongside NH27 and include a 3.375 km elevated section between Amausi and Bani.
Phase 2 will focus on a new route parallel to the existing NH2. Package 2 will connect Bani to Azad Marg Chauraha, also close to the Ganga Bridge in Kanpur. The Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway will link with the Lucknow Ring Road to help reduce traffic on the main road. This is the first expressway of its kind to be built in Uttar Pradesh. The roadway will run parallel to NH 25 for 3.5 km, starting in Lucknow at Shaheed Path and connecting Nawabganj to Kanpur through Banthara, Bani, Datauli Kantha, Taura, Neorna, Amarsas, and Rawal.
Packages
Package 1 goes from Amausi to Bani and covers a distance of 28.50 km.
Package 2 runs from Bani to Ata, with a distance between 28.50 km and 73.74 km.
PNC Infratech is developing these packages.
Interconnectivity of Lucknow Kanpur Expressway with Other Expressways
The Expressway will be the meeting point of three expressways:
1. Ghaziabad-Kanpur Expressway
2. Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway
3. Ganga Expressway
The Ganga Expressway runs 594 km, connecting Prayagraj to Meerut.
The Ghaziabad-Kanpur Expressway is 380 km long and links Ghaziabad and Kanpur. It passes through Ghaziabad, Hapur, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, and Unnao.
Major Villages Along Lucknow To Kanpur Expressway
The Lucknow Kanpur Expressway will go through 31 villages in Unnao District and 11 villages in Lucknow District. The project will require the purchase of more than 460 hectares of land. The villages connected to this Expressway include Taura, Neorna, Rawal, Banthara, Amarsas, Bani, and Datauli Kantha.
Expressway Travel Time
The Lucknow Kanpur Expressway will greatly cut travel time between the two cities from 1.5 to 3 hours down to about 45 to 50 minutes. The distance from Lucknow to Kanpur is 93 km by road and 77 km by air. People travel from Lucknow to Kanpur by road, train, and air.
The fastest and shortest road route is NH27, which is usually not very crowded. Most travellers prefer this route, which takes around 2.5 hours to cover the 93 km distance. Another option is the MDR 52C route, which is about 126 km long and takes around 3 hours to travel from Lucknow to Kanpur.
Key Details
The Expressway will connect Kanpur and Lucknow, running alongside NH-27, the current road between these two cities. The new route will be about 8.5 km away from the existing road. The project will feature three major bridges, 28 minor bridges, 38 underpasses, and six flyovers. In March 2022, PNC Infratech received two contracts to build the Expressway.
| Total Estimated Cost | Rs. 4,700 crore |
| Total Length | 62.764 km |
| Lanes | 6 (expandable up to 8) |
| Deadline | 01/12/25 |
| Owner | NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) |
| Project Model | EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) |
Lucknow Kanpur Expressway Project Benefits
Improve connectivity: Currently, Lucknow and Kanpur are connected by NH 25. The new Expressway will make travel between these cities faster and better connected, saving time.
Reduce traffic: The Expressway will help reduce city traffic jams and allow vehicles to move quickly between cities.
Support the defence corridor project: Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, and Kanpur, the state’s commercial centre, are two of the six points in the defence corridor project. The Expressway will support this important project, including Agra, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, and Aligarh.
Boost regional economic activity: The Expressway will make travel between the cities easier and reduce travel time. This will attract more investments and increase economic activities in the area.
Infrastructure development: The new Expressway will pass through several neighbourhoods in Lucknow and Kanpur, such as Shaheed Path, Nawabganj, Banthara, Bani, Datauli Kantha, Taura, Neorna, Amarsas, and Rawal. Finishing the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway will make the trip quicker and improve infrastructure in these areas, increasing demand for real estate.
