A major part of the infrastructure building and construction of highways – Gwalior-Agra Expressway, 88km, six-laning; total expenditure Rs 46.13 billion – which promises to change the face of regional connectivity between Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will improve transport efficiency and enable free trade and tourist flow.
We would discuss the Gwalior-Agra Expressway and its key features along with the expected benefits that can be seen as achieved during the development stages of the expressway. Right from saving travel time to green commitments, this is a very transformative asset that would serve the region in so many ways.
Key Features of the Gwalior-Agra Expressway
Gwalior-Agra Expressway is being built as an exceptional road transport corridor that will further boost connectivity between the key cities of UP, MP, and Rajasthan. Some of the notable features are as follows.
Six-Lane Corridor: The expressway is a six-lane, high-capacity route that can easily and efficiently facilitate the movement of heavy transport and passenger cars with smooth flow.
Hanging Bridge Over Chambal River: The major attractions of this project are the construction of hanging bridges over the Chambal River. These will be constructed to give the expressway a spectacular view in addition to having a completely interrupted connectivity all across the region.
Spanning 550 hectares : It covers 550 hectares. The expressway will thus provide a major transportation backbone to interlink many cities and towns.
Environment-friendly Design: NHAI understands that acquiring the land has been problematic, but still, it has to ensure that environmental degradation is not caused by this construction.
Key Landmarks and Achievements
Gwalior-Agra Expressway is under construction and doing great guns. Many significant milestones have already been achieved. Here is a snapshot of the progress made so far:
Land Acquisition: Land acquisition is now complete to the tune of 95%. This is one of the critical steps that will ensure there is no major delay in the development of the expressway.
Pre-construction activities have reached a near 85%, a pointer that the project is indeed on course and soon ready for operations.
Tree Cutting and Plantation: The most challenging task the project entails is the tree cutting for making way for the expressway. It is estimated that almost 4,000 trees will have to be cut. NHAI however has promised to plant an approximate 124,000 trees in a gesture of responsible attitude towards the environment. The most recent mandate had included the cutting of 755 trees inside the TTZ. That added on to the challenge while getting the approval.
How the Gwalior-Agra Expressway Will Benefit the Region
Upon completion, the Gwalior-Agra Expressway will bring numerous benefits to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Some of these important advantages include:
- Reduced Travel Time
The reduction in travel time between Gwalior and Agra would be drastic as these cities are of utmost importance. This will improve road transport efficiency, especially in regards to long-distance commuters and freight transportation.
- Boost to Trade and Industry
The good connectivity through roads will enable smooth trade and transport of goods within the region. The cost of transportation decreased will help businesses, thus yielding economic growth and more industrial hubs along the expressway.
- Increased Tourism
The Gwalior-Agra Expressway will also provide a smoother connectivity to other major tourist places like Taj Mahal in Agra. This will increase tourism business between UP and MP since the visitors will have smoother connectivity and travel.
- Regional Connectivity
It will efficiently link the significant cities of UP, MP, and Rajasthan with facilitating an enhanced movement of people and goods. It will provide an effective transport linkage for both rural and urban regions that shall contribute to regional development.
Conclusion: A Trans-Formative Infrastructure Project
Gwalior-Agra Expressway: This is an infrastructure project with much expectation for change in connectivity and the boost of regional economic growth in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The expressway will surely contribute significantly to the future economy of the region by reducing travel time, upgrading trade, and boosting tourism.
It would better the lives of those people, but it will unlock a new set of possibilities for business and industries and those travelling as well. Innovative design, environment-conscious design would make Gwalior-Agra Expressway one of the most valued parts in Indian transportation networks.
Refer :
ConstructionWorld, Link to article
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