Lucknow: Setting the plan into motion, UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority has started looking for a suitable construction company to build the spur route between the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Purvanchal Expressway.Spanning 51km, the link route would facilitate the movement of motor vehicles directly between the two expressways without compelling commuters to negotiate city traffic.The alignment approved by the authority would pass through Jaliamau village in Mohan, Piparsand, Banthara, and Gaura villages before culminating at Ratiyamau in Gosainganj. The six-lane expressway would be constructed with a budget of Rs 2,865 crore in three years. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting of senior officials from various departments on Tuesday and directed them to expedite work on the sanctioned expressway projects.The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority floated the tenders for the construction of the link expressway on Feb 18. “A meeting with infrastructure and construction companies is planned on March 16 to discuss the modalities required to undertake the project. We are hopeful of shortlisting the agency by April 7,” said a senior officer from the authority. Priority was assigned to the project as providing direct connectivity between the two expressways will attract an increased number of motorists once the Ganga Expressway is thrown open for vehicular movement.Officials said motorists from the NCR and other parts of north India would opt for the Ganga Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Purvanchal Expressway to commute to Bihar and West Bengal.Entry and exit ramps will be built to facilitate the movement of vehicles to the defence corridor in Lucknow, an industrial cluster being developed by the authority, and the national highways which connect Lucknow to Kanpur, Rae Bareli, and Sultanpur. A 7m wide service road will be developed alongside the carriageway in areas where densely populated towns are located, officials said.
