Bundelkhand Expressway: Top Features You Need To Know

The Bundelkhand Expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16, after 28 months the PM announced its plan in January 2020. It is the fastest made expressway in the state compared to the Delhi - Agra and Purvanchal expressways which were built in 36 months, while the Agra - Lucknow expressway was delayed by 14 months. Two nodes of the UP-Defence Corridor are falling along the Bundelkhand Expressway and it will also serve as lifeline for development in one of the most poverty struck areas of the country where migration rate is on the higher side. Here are the top features of the new Bundelkhand Expressway.

Also Read: PM Modi To Inaugurate 296 Km Long Bundelkhand Expressway On July 16

India's Third Longest Expressway

The 296 km long Bundelkhand expressway is India's third longest expressway crossing seven districts, which include Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah, and it took 28 months to complete its construction. The starting point connects to NH-35 in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda village that comes under Chitrakoot district. The Bundelkhand expressway connects with the Agra-Lucknow expressway from Etawah onward.

Travel Time

The Bundelkhand expressway will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Chitrakoot to 6 hours.

According to the chief executive officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) Awanish Kumar Awasthi, the new expressway will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Chitrakoot to as low as 6 hours, and the expressway will also act as an industrial corridor for the region.

12.7 Per Cent Lesser Cost Of Construction

The reduced cost has translated into a saving of over Rs 1,132 crore for the state ex-chequer.

The overall cost of constructing the new Bundelkhand Expressway is Rs. 14,849 crore which is 12.7 per cent lesser compared to what was estimated. The reduced cost has translated into a saving of over Rs 1,132 crore for the state ex-chequer. The credit for the savings goes to competitive bidding for the4 construction of the project. A total of 82 separate bids were received by UPEIDA from 17 bidders, with 10 contenders bidding for all six packages of the project.

Fastest Acquisition Of Land

Over 3,440 hectares of land was acquired for the project within 10 months of the start of the process.

The Bundelkhand Expressway project holds a record for the fastest acquisition of land for a highway project in Uttar Pradesh as over 3,440 hectares of land was acquired for the project within 10 months of the start of the process, without protests from farmers or other stake holders.

Water Harvesting and Green Corridor

Rainwater harvesting pits have been built at 500 metre along the entire stretch of the expressway.

Rainwater harvesting pits have been built at 500 metre along the entire stretch of the expressway. UPEIDA has also planned planting 7 lakh saplings across the stretch of the Bundelkhand expressway.

Safety

Police patrolling, cattle catcher vehicles and advanced life support ambulances will be deployed in a bid to make the expressway safe for commuters and a traffic management system will come into play ensuring that people drive safely on the expressway.

Public Convenience

Four public convenience centres and fuel stations will be built soon on the expressway providing all necessary services to the commuters.