The state of Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a key pillar for the nation's defense capabilities. After Unnao (Agra-Lucknow Expressway), Sultanpur (Purvanchal Expressway), and Etawah (Bundelkhand Expressway), history was made as the Indian Air Force embarked on a groundbreaking combat-level exercise on the 3.5 km long airstrip of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur. The exercise featured modern fighter jets like the Rafale, Sukhoi, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar performing day-time landing and take-off rehearsals. The event is set to continue into the night.
Rafale:
Equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems and long-range Meteor missiles, this aircraft showcases all-weather operational prowess.
SU-30 MKI:
Co-developed by India and Russia, this twin-seater fighter is capable of long-range strikes and can be armed with BrahMos missiles.
Mirage-2000:
A French-origin jet excelling in high-speed deep strikes, it is also nuclear-capable.
MiG-29:
This fighter jet stands out for its speed, altitude performance, and radar evasion capabilities.
Jaguar:
Utilized for ground attack and anti-ship missions, Jaguar is a precision-strike aircraft.
C-130J Super Hercules:
This heavy transport aircraft is crucial for deploying special forces, disaster relief, and rescue missions.
AN-32:
A transport plane well-suited for high-altitude logistics of supplies and troops.
MI-17 V5 Helicopter:
A versatile helicopter essential for search and rescue, medical evacuation, and humanitarian aid missions.
Ganga Expressway Spanning 594 km
According to Sr. Executive Officer Shrihari Pratap Shahi from UPEIDA, the Ganga Expressway is being constructed across 4 groups. Adani is in charge of groups 2, 3, and 4, while IRB Company is constructing one group under the PPP model. Chief Minister toured three of the groups, excluding Group-4 leading towards Raebareli-Prayagraj, to assess progress. The expressway spans about 594 kilometers, connecting the western and eastern regions of the state from Meerut to Prayagraj. The ground-breaking ceremony for the expressway was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18, 2021, in Shahjahanpur, starting from Bijoli village on the Meerut-Bulandshahr road (NH-334) and ending at Judapur Dandu village on the Prayagraj bypass (NH-19).
Key Features of the Ganga Expressway
Engineered with six lanes, the Ganga Expressway can be expanded to eight lanes if required.
It boasts a right of way (ROW) width of 120 meters with a designed speed of 120 km/h.
The expressway is segmented into four groups, each comprising three packages.
Nine passenger facility complexes are under construction to offer amenities for commuters.
Additionally, 2 main toll plazas (in Meerut and Prayagraj) and 19 ramp toll plazas (including 4 newly added) are planned.
A bridge over the Ganga River, approximately 960 meters in length, and another over the Ramganga River, about 720 meters long, are also part of the design.
Significantly, a 3.5 km airstrip construction is proposed near Shahjahanpur (Jalalabad Tehsil).
The project will connect 12 cities: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj. In total, 518 villages are covered.
The expressway spans 7453.15 hectares of land, with a total investment estimated at 36,230 crore rupees.
