7-9-2007-Travel time between Eastern U.P. and Western U.P. to be cut short by 16 hours
Lucknow : September05, 2007 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Km. Mayawati has said that a 1000 km.-long ultra modern expressway would be constructed on the banks of river Ganga. This would be first of its kind in the world. The ‘Eastern U.P. (Varanasi-Ballia) to western U.P. (NOIDA) Ganga expressway would link Ballia with NOIDA. This 8-lane expressway costing about Rs. 40,000 crore would be constructed by using the latest technology and it would have all the modern facilities as well. She said that to translate the project into reality, work would begin very soon. After the completion of this project the travel time would be cut short to eight hours only which is at present 20-24 hrs. This would save the time as well as the fuel of vehicles. After a visually-aided presentation of the project at her 5-Kalidas Marg residence here today, the Chief Minister, addressing a press conference said that the decision to construct the project had been taken with a view to create a network of world-class roads in the State so that the people could be benefited by fast moving travel system. The State Government has included creation of development-oriented atmosphere in its top priorities. Moreover, creation of employment opportunities is not possible without developing infrastructure. Therefore, while deciding the priorities of infrastructure to ensure all-round development, giving a boost to sectors like energy, employment infrastructure development centres, world-level infrastructure of roads, excellent transport system, agriculture and urban regeneration has also been emphasised. Giving information to the media persons, Km. Mayawati, said on the occasion that the expressway would originate from Ballia and pass through Varanasi, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Bulandshahr and link NOIDA with Poorvanchal. It would have world class latest amenities like petrol pumps, telephones booths, cybercafΓ©s, food-courts and emergency medical facilities etc. This expressway would be constructed by building flood control embankments on river Ganga. This multi-purpose and ambitious project would benefit entrepreneurs, traders, citizens and people of the rural areas among others. It would ensure rapid development of the backward areas situated on the left bank of river Ganga. She said that after the completion of the project the economic and social development would get a new dimension. The C.M. said that keeping an eye on the uniform development of the backward areas situated on the left bank of river Ganga, the State Government intends to complete the multi-purpose project in quick time. The allround development of Poorvanchal was the first and foremost commitment of the Government, she pointed out. This project would remove the regional imbalances and benefit farmers, labourers, unemployed youths and other sections of the society, she said. Expressway’s connectivity with Delhi would open new vistas for the unemployed youths of the State, because a large number of Business Process Outsourcing (B.P.O.s) and IT industries would set up their units here she added. Km. Mayawati said that the major benefit accruing from this project would be that it would drastically cut short the distance between the far-flung areas of eastern U.P. and Delhi. Smooth plying of vehicles had become very difficult because of uncontrolled entry of vehicles on the roads and a large variety of vehicles. This had sent the State’s transport system into disarray, adversely affecting the State’s business activities, as constant impediments caused delay, increase fuel consumption and transport cost and the goods start decaying as well. This project would benefit the entrepreneurs and traders by cutting down, both travel time and fuel expenses. The project would also help in re-energising the traditional industries based in areas like Bhadohi, Kannauj and Khurja etc. and also help the weavers and craftsmen to improve their economic condition effectively. Besides, it would also ensure revival of ancient and historic cities like Mirzapur, Bithur etc. situated on the bank of river Ganga. The C.M. said that proposals for linking other prominent cities of the State like Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Banvasa etc. with this expressway were also under consideration. Detailed proposals were being prepared, so that the pace of development could be accelerated and U.P. could become a frontline and prosperous State of the country. Km. Mayawati said that the setting up of the industrial areas along with the ‘Eastern U.P. (Varanasi-Balia) to Western U.P. (NOIDA) Ganga Expressway Project was also proposed. This would ensure rapid economic development of the area on one hand, while on the other it would provide employment opportunities to a large number of youths in the region. This expressway would also provide opportunities to the farmers to transport their crops, especially those which decay quickly, to Delhi and other remote markets in a considerably short time. This would help them increase their income and their crops would also not decay. The C.M. said that the project would ensure all-round development of Poorvanchal. The project would have dual benefits as it would ensure smooth transport facilities on one hand, while on the other it would stop erosion of land and save lakhs of hectares of cultivable land. A large number of people residing in villages situated on the banks of river Ganga and facing the fury of floods year after year would be the biggest beneficiaries of this project. The present U.P. Government was making efforts for the progress of backward areas by removing regional imbalances. In this regard, the Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on July 20 last and demanded a special package of Rs. 80,000 crore for the all-round development of the State including the backward areas of Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal. This included a demand of Rs. 9,400 crore for meeting the challenges of infrastructure facilities in Poorvanchal. Besides, Rs. 2,200 crore have also been demanded by the Chief Minister to meet the challenge of floods in Eastern U.P. Terming investment of huge capital as imperative for quick economic progress, Km. Mayawati said that the project would be developed on the basis of private investment in which the Government’s role would be that of a facilitator. Besides, the Government aims to provide security to the weaker and poor sections of the society, which include labourers, small and marginal farmers and farm workers. To provide them large scale employment opportunities, the Government was making arrangement for capital investment, so that these sections could also improve their economic condition. The present U.P. Government, led by the Chief Minister, Km. Mayawati had taken a resolve to establish a society based on equality by following the ideology of ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’. Under it, the State Government had included creation of development-oriented atmosphere in its top priorities. The greenery along with the expressway would effectively check pollution and fulfill the need of environment protection. This project would open up a new chapter in the development of Uttar Pradesh, the largest State in the country, as India was fast emerging as the new economic engine of the world. The project aims at prosperity and progress of all the people of the State, she added. ******* ‘Eastern U.P. (Varanasi-Balia) to western U.P. (NOIDA) Ganga expressway project : Some important points β’ Quick to and fro facilities and transportation of goods are the deciding factors for economic development of any State. Therefore, development of infrastructure was key to India’s progress. There is a need for network of good roads for the proper transportation of goods and ever-increasing traffic. It has become imperative to develop a new network of roads. β’ The U.P. Government has taken cognizance of increasing goods transportation traffic, which doubles in a span of 10-13 years. On the basis of these facts, inadequate road infrastructure was a serious problem for the State. The holy city of Varanasi is connected with New Delhi through National Highway No.-2 (N.H.2) and it passes through the State capital in the form of N.H.56 and N.H.24. This highway is the life line of the State and presently carries the burden of some important cities of the State. β’ The State Government has decided to construct an eight-lane ‘Eastern U.P. (Varanasi-Balia) to western U.P. (NOIDA) Ganga expressway between Ballia and Greater NOIDA, which will have controlled entry from important cities. This expressway will be constructed on the proposed marginal embankment of the State Irrigation Department to be built for controlling floods on the left bank of river Ganga. A small part of the expressway between Greater NOIDA and Narora, will be situated on the ground. β’ The express highway will originate near Freight Container Depot in Sikandrabad. The part of the expressway from the starting point to Narora will not follow the banks of river Ganga. After Narora, the expressway will be constructed on the left marginal embankment of river Ganga till Narainpur in Gazipur district. β’ The expressway will pass through Gautam Buddhanagar, Bulandshahr, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Fatehgarh, Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Sant Ravidasnagar, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Chandauli and Gazipur. It will be 100mts. wide. β’ The proposed expressway will be of eight-lanes and every four-lanes will be divided by a median of 0.50 meter width. The width of the roads from all sides will be 14.5 meters. On every side of the road a 2.5 meter wide kacchi strip will be left. The median will be 0.50 meter wide. Since, the embankment will be 7-8 meter high, construction of a metal beam crash barrier on the sides of the expressway has been proposed for the safety of the users. β’ The initial design of the project shows that on the subsidiary rivers of entire length of expressway will have four major bridges, three major bridges on canals, eight railway over bridges, 256 small bridges, eight flyovers on crossings of National Highways, 12 flyovers on crossings of State highways, 40 flyovers and 225 under pass on crossings on main district roads/other districts roads. β’ Service roads will be constructed on some spots for local traffic facilities. Expressway has been designed for the speed of 120 kms. per hour. Drains will be constructed on the sides and on the breath, besides the energy disposers for the proper water drainage. β’ This project will provide the most needed and direct access to eastern Uttar Pradesh especially the holy city of Varanasi. As a result, tourism and investment will come to the State, besides the savings in vehicle movements cost. The city traffic density will decrease due to the diversion of heavy traffic towards expressway. Air and noise pollution caused by vehicles will also be reduced in urban areas. β’ The entire project will be in the State of U.P. and the kachhar areas of Ganga river. The length of the project will be situated 1.5 kms. away from the Ganga river water flow. β’ All the districts from which the expressway passes have proper distribution of rains during summer and monsoon seasons. β’ Expressway crosses through the subsidiary rivers, nullahs, canals and the tributaries of Ganga river. β’ The water drainage of the project’s affected areas is being made through the medium of Ganga river. This river is the principal source of water in expressway length. β’ Three sub-rivers, three canals and 236 small tributaries cross the proposed express highway. Ganga river flows beside the expressway and the expressway does not cross the Ganga river anywhere in its entire length. *******
Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007
Ganga Expressway to link Ballia with Noida
Special correspondent
| Work on 853-km-long eight-lane expressway likely to start in January 2008 |
POLICYMAKERS: Chief minister Mayawati with Cabinet colleagues at her residence in Lucknow on Wednesday.
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious road project that would link the backward Eastern UP with the more prosperous Western UP. The Ganga Expressway Project from Ballia to Noida was granted Cabinet approval on Wednesday and the work on building the 853- km-long access-controlled eight-lane expressway is likely to begin in January 2008.
Environmental clearance for the project costing around Rs. 40,000 crore was obtained from the Union Government on August 29. The project would be developed by private promoters with the State Government playing the role of a facilitator. The State Government is in the process of appointing consultants for the project and the open competitive bidding process would be launched once the techno-economic feasibility report is obtained from the consultants.
Land for developing the project would be given to private players at acquisition cost with the developers allowed to develop residential, industrial and institutional areas for making it economically viable for the promoters.
Inspiration for building the Ganga Expressway was sought from Sher Shah Suri, who built the Grand Trunk Road in the 16th Century after temporarily displacing Humayun from the Mughal throne. In fact, a visual presentation on the project at the Chief Ministerβs official residence at 5 Kalidas Marg here drew a parallel with the legendary G T Road. But unlike Suriβs G T Road which ran alongside the right bank of the Ganga, Ms. Mayawatiβs expressway would be built on the left bank of the river.
Unveiling the project, the Chief Minister said at a press conference here that the expressway would originate from Ballia and pass through Ghazipur, Ramnagar, Varanasi, Chunar, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Unchahar, Unnao, Kanpur, Bithoor, Kannauj, Fatehgarh, Budaun, Narora and Bulandshahr before reaching Noida. A small part of the expressway between Noida and Narora would not run along the course of the river, she added.
Ms. Mayawati said the expressway would be constructed on the proposed marginal embankment to be built by the State Irrigation Department for controlling floods on the left bank of the Ganga. From Narora the expressway will be built on the embankment on the left bank of the river up to Narainpur in Ghazipur district. When completed, the travel time between Eastern and Western UP would be cut short by 16 hours and it would take around eight hours to zip across from Varanasi to Delhi.
Besides, linked expressways have also been proposed. These are Jhansi-Kanpur Link Expressway, Kanpur-Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Agra-Kanpur Link Expressway and Baghpat-Saharanpur- Hardwar-Dehradun Link Expressway.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the network of world class roads will speed up development of the State and also help in removing regional imbalances.
Explaining the nuances of the project, Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said the river embankment would be widened to cover a width of 100 metres for the eight-lane expressway. He said it would open up employment opportunities and give a fillip to tourism, besides ensuring the revival of towns like Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Kannauj and Bithoor.
He said satellite mapping had been done and the expressway would be situated about 1.5 km away from the water flow. The riverβs drainage system will not be disturbed and the displacement of population will be minimal. The proposed expressway will have four major bridges, three major bridges on canals, eight railway over bridges, 256 small bridges, 60 flyovers and 225 underpasses.
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C.M. greets people on Jamashtami
Lucknow : September 03, 2007 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Km. Mayawati has greeted the people of the State on the occasion of Shri Krishna Jamashtami. In a greeting message, the Chief Minister said that the character of Lord Shri Krishna always inspired the humanity. He gave the message of Karma, Yoga, Gyan and Bhakti through Bhagwatgeeta. His principle of Karmayoga will always guide the humanity, she added. Km. Mayawati has appealed to celebrate the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami with full fervour and devotion, besides taking inspiration from the life and philosophy of Lord Shri Krishna. ———-