On July 16, 2022, prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway at Katheri village in Jalaun district. The Bundelkhand Expressway is a four-lane controlled-access highway linking the backward regions in the state, to the national capital. It will pass through Uttar Pradesh’s Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun districts and link the Bundelkhand region to Delhi through the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway.
Prime minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the expressway project on February 29, 2020. Earlier, the completion date for the Bundelkhand expressway was set as January 14, 2023. The project has been completed before the schedule, in just 27 months.
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The Bundelkhand expressway will be connected to the Agra-Lucknow expressway and Yamuna expressway. It will reduce the travel time from Chitrakoot in UP’s Bundelkhand region to Delhi from 12 hours to about 5-6 hours, while pushing growth and economy of the most backward regions of the state.
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Bundelkhand Expressway route
The Bundelkhand express highway is connected through smooth traffic corridor with Delhi and NCR via Agra- Lucknow expressway and Yamuna expressway. As per the route map of Bundelkhand expressway, greenfield, Bundelkhand expressway road starts near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot district and merge with Agra- Lucknow expressway near Kudrail village in Etawah district.
The Bundelkhand expressway route covers districts such as Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.
Furthermore, major rivers such as Ken, Betwa, Yamuna, Bagen, Chandrawal, Birma and Sengar flows near the route of Bundelkhand expressway.
The Bundelkhand expressway route from Kudrail village in Etawah to Chitrakoot Dham will cover the following areas:
- East of Bharthana town in Etawah
- West of Phaphund in Auraiya district
- West of Auraiya in Auraiya district
- West of Jalaun in Jalaun district
- Southwest of Orai in Jalaun district
- North of Rath in Hamirpur district
- South of Maudaha in Hamirpur district
- North of Banda in Banda district
- Northeast of Atarra in Banda district
Bundelkhand Expressway route map
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Bundelkhand expressway: Key facts
| Bundelkhand expressway route | Gonda village in Chitrakoot district with Kudrail village on Agra – Lucknow Expressway in Etawah district |
| Starting point | Bharatkoop at Jhansi-Prayagraj National Highway Number 35 in Chitrakoot district |
| Ending point | Kudrail village in Etawah district on Agra Lucknow expressway |
| Distance | 296 kilometres |
| Cost | Around 15,000 crore |
| Project packages | The project has been divided into six packages |
| Project implementation | Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode |
| Project status | Completed. Inaugurated on July 16, 2022 |
| Expressway lane | Four lane, expandable to six lane |
| Districts covered | Chitrakoot, Banda, Mohaba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah |
| Owner | Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) |
Expressway project details
The project started off in late 2019 with a vision to complete it over the next 30 months.
The Bundelkhand expressway route starts near Bharatkoop at the Jhansi-Prayagraj National Highway Number 35 in Chitrakoot district. It connects near Kudrail village in Etawah district on the Agra-Lucknow expressway.
It will cross major rivers along the route namely Bagen, Ken, Shyama, Chandawal, Birma, Betwa, Yamuna, and Sengar.
The expressway project includes four Railway Over Bridges, 14 large bridges, six toll plazas, seven Ramp Plaza, 266 small bridges, and 18 flyovers.
Use of technology in construction of the expressway
Special technology has been used in the construction of the bridge. The UPEIDA chief engineer claims that the ribs have been created over thermoplastic linings on roadsides. This will alert the driver about his vehicle sliding off the road. This safety measure is entirely different from ones that were used in Agra and Poorvanchal.
Bundelkhand Expressway: How will the project benefit UP?
The development of the Bundelkhand Expressway will lead to economic growth especially in the most backward regions. It will also give a push to the agriculture, commerce, industrial and tourism sectors. There are plans to develop industrial corridor along the route of the Bundelkhand expressway for encouraging investments around the region. Several manufacturing units, development centers, and agricultural productive areas will be linked with the national capital. Entrepreneurs will be able to set up industrial training and educational institutes, and medical institutes in the area.
Industries such as handloom, food processing, dairy, storage, and traditional medium and small-scale industrial units in the Bundelkhand region will also receive the much-need thrust.
Job opportunities galore, push to Make In India
The project has been built at a cost of Rs 15,000 crores and is expected to change people’s lives in the entire region. Laying the foundation stone of the project, PM Modi said that the expressway would facilitate better connection between the region and facilities in bigger cities, as thousands of residents would be able to move smoothly for better job opportunities.
With the expressway backing its growth, Bundelkhand is also en route to becoming a big centre of the ‘Make In India’ project with goods manufactured herein being used for exports. In due course of time, smaller industries too are expected to thrive. Last year’s budget also had provisions for funds to the tune of Rs 3,700 crores that was allotted for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor. The Expressway will be supplementing the nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor announced by the central government in February 2018.
See also: Ganga Expressway: Check the route, map, project’s major cities and latest news
Travel time between Delhi, Chitrakoot reduced
The Expressway will reduce the travel time between New Delhi and Chitrakoot to six hours.
The expressway starts from Jhansi and passes through the state’s most backward districts like Chitrakoot, which is also a religious and tourist spot, Banda, Hamirpur, Auraiya and Jalaun. From Jalaun, it goes to Etawah and reaches Naseempur via Bateshwar in Agra, before joining the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
See also: All about the Delhi-Meerut Expressway
Bundelkhand Expressway: Funding for the project
In 2019, Bank of Baroda sanctioned a loan of Rs 2,000 crores for the ambitious the expressway.
With this initiative, other banks would also be able to fast-track the loan proposals under their consideration and the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) would be able to attain expeditious financial closure of the loan of Rs 7,000 crores for this project. The Industrial Corridor and the Defence Corridor proposed by the state government alongside the expressway, will further add to the industrial and economic activities in this area.
Bundelkhand Expressway project tenders and contractors
Connecting Chitrakoot to Etawah district, the expressway project has been divided into 6 civil packages:
| Package | Package Name | Distance (Kms) | Contractor Name |
| Package 1 | Gonda, district Chitrakoot to Manokhar, district Banda (0+790 to 49+700) | 50.49 | Apco Infratech |
| Package 2 | Manokhar, district Banda to Kaouhri, district Mahoba (49+700 to 100+000) | 50.30 | Apco Infratech |
| Package 3 | Kaouhri, district Mahoba to Brolikharka, district Hamirpur (100+000 to 149+000) | 49.00 | Ashoka Buildcon |
| Package 4 | Brolikharka, district Hamirpur to Salabaad, district Jalaun (149+000 to 200+000) | 51.00 | Gawar Construction |
| Package 5 | Salabaad, district Jalaun to Bakhariya, district Auraiya (200+000 to 250+000) | 50.00 | Gawar Construction |
| Package 6 | Bakhariya, district Auraiya to Kudrail, district Etawah (250+000 to 295+280) | 45.28 | Dilip Buildcon |
Bundelkhand Expressway project timeline
| Apr 2017: The Yogi Adityanath-led government first unveiled its plan about the upcoming expressway in April 2017 to improve the economy and connectivity in the interiors of Uttar Pradesh. |
| Nov 2017: Work on route survey began, followed by preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). |
| Nov 2018: Uttar Pradesh government releases Rs 640 crores for land acquisition. |
| Feb 2019: DPR for the project was prepared and 27% of land was acquired for the project |
| Jul 2019: Additional budget of Rs 1,150 crore was given for the expressway project |
| Aug 2019: 90% of the land needed for the project was acquired. |
| Feb 2020: The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The construction work began immediately by four contractors on six civil packages. |
| Apr 2020: Road construction activity stopped due to COVID-19 pandemic, resumes in three out of six packages |
| Aug 2020: 14% of the construction work was done ahead of the schedule |
| May 2021: 90% of the earthworks and 60% of construction work was completed. As many as 581 out of 818 structures were developed as of May 31, 2022 |
| Sep 2021: The section of Bundelkhand expressway from Etawah to Jalaun was nearly completed, set to be operational by December 2021. |
| Oct 2021: UPEIDA completes more than 73% of construction of the Bundelkhand expressway. |
| Apr 2022: Around 93% of the project work was completed |
| Jun 2022: Over 96% of construction work was completed, with the project’s inauguration was scheduled to the second week in July. |
| Jul 2022: The Bundelkhand Expressway project was inaugurated by PM Modi on July 16, 2022. |
See also: All about the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited (UPRNNL)
Bundelkhand expressway: Features
- The Bundelkhand expressway will be the state’s first Solar expressway. Solar panels will be installed on both sides along the route.
- Arrangements for water conservation have been made along the entire length and breadth of the expressway.
- Rainwater harvesting pits have been built at 500 metre along the route.
- The expressway will promote greenery.
- There will be facilities such as fuel filling stations, advanced traffic management system and several safety features.
Bundelkhand Expressway: Current status and latest news
By first week of July 2022, around 99% of the construction work on the Bundelkhand expressway was completed. The project was successfully opened to the public on July 16, 2022. Bundelkhand Expressway was inaugurated by PM on July 16, 2022 in Jalaun district.
UPEIDA saved on cost to the tune of Rs 1,844 crores on three expressway projects, namely Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Gorakhpur Link Expressway. The construction work for the three projects was awarded through e-tendering. UPEIDA chief engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta said that the minimum tender, in the Purvanchal Expressway, came down by around 5.19% from the estimated cost, resulting in a profit of about Rs 614 crores. Similarly, the minimum tender in the Bundelkhand expressway project had come down by around 12.72% from the estimated cost, resulting in a profit of around Rs 1,132 crores, he said. In the Gorakhpur Link Expressway project, the minimum tender came down by 3.12% from the estimated cost, which resulted in a profit of around Rs 98 crores, he added.
Toll collection starts on Bundelkhand Expressway
Commuters will be required to pay toll charges on the toll plazas on the expressway. the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) will be responsible for the toll collection.
As per the toll fee structure, Rs 620 will be charged for four-wheelers for a single trip and Rs 993 for a return trip within 24 hours. Light commercial vehicles and mini-buses will be charged Rs 990 for a single trip. Buses and trucks will have to pay Rs 1,995 for a trip. additional charges will be levied on multi-axle vehicles, trailers and earth movers.
Bundelkhand Expressway: Contact details
Bundelkhand Expressway is developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). The contact details of the authority are mentioned below:
Address: C-13, 2nd Floor, PARYATAN Bhawan, Vipin Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow-226010
Toll free number: 18001233127/ 18001233128
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
FAQs
How many expressways have been built in Uttar Pradesh recently?
The 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway, the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway and the 91-km-long Gorakhpur Link Expressway are under construction. By 2022, the state government is expecting the completion.
Which are the existing expressways in Uttar Pradesh?
The Yamuna Expressway and the Lucknow-Agra Expressway are fully functional in Uttar Pradesh.
How long is Bundelkhand Expressway?
The Bundelkhand Expressway is a four-lane expressway which is 296 km-long.
What are the routes of Bundelkhand Expressway?
The northern terminal of the Bundelkhand Expressway starts from the Agra – Lucknow Expressway in Etawah District and covers several districts such as Auraiya, Jalaun, Hamirpr, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot.
How many rivers are there along the route of Bundelkhand Expressway?
The Bundelkhand Expressway covers major districts such as Bagen, Shyama, Ken, Chandawal, Birma, Betwa, Yamuna and Sengar.
What is the toll price on the Bundelkhand Expressway?
According to the official toll fee structure, Rs 620 will be charged for four-wheeler vehicles for a single trip and Rs 993 for a return trip within 24 hours. Light commercial vehicles and mini-buses will be charged Rs 990 for a single trip. Buses and trucks will have to pay Rs 1,995 for a trip. additional charges will be levied on multi-axle vehicles, trailers and earth movers.
How far is Chitrakoot from Delhi by Bundelkhand Expressway?
The Bundelkhand expressway will enable commuters to cover the distance from Chitrakoot to Delhi in around six hours.
Does Chitrakoot come under Bundelkhand?
Chitrakoot district is one of the Uttar Pradesh districts, which is located in the Bundelkhand region.
Is Bundelkhand Expressway open for public?
The 296-km Bundelkhand expressway is operational. The project was inaugurated on July 16, 2022.
How many expressways are there in India?
India has around 44 expressways. The total length of expressways in India is 4,901 km.
(With inputs from Sneha Sharon Mammen)
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected] |
Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.
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