UP's Infrastructure Drive Targets Economic Growth and Improved Connectivity.

Once seen as a landlocked state grappling with connectivity challenges, Uttar Pradesh is now emerging as a national leader in infrastructure development, with a strategic focus on transforming itself into a $1-trillion economy, an official spokesperson said on Saturday.

Citing a Reserve Bank of India study, the spokesperson noted that “for every rupee spent on infrastructure, a return of approximately 2.5 to 3 times its GDP value is generated.” With this multiplier effect in mind, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made world-class infrastructure a central pillar of his development agenda.

“Recognising the limitations posed by its geography, the CM prioritised seamless connectivity across air, road, rail and waterways. Over the past eight years, this vision has translated into tangible outcomes, turning UP into a model of integrated infrastructure,” the spokesperson added.

In the 2025 State Budget, significant allocations have been made to accelerate key projects. Among them is the construction of new bridges over the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and the extension of the Ganga Expressway through the proposed ₹22,400 crore, 320-km-long Prayagraj–Sonbhadra Expressway. Other major projects include a ₹7,000 crore expressway connecting Chandauli and Ghazipur and a 76-km greenfield expressway from Jewar to the Ganga Expressway, enhancing Agra–Prayagraj connectivity.

Uttar Pradesh is also pioneering inland waterway infrastructure. The state hosts India's only interstate waterway — the Prayagraj to Haldia route — with plans to extend it to Ayodhya. The Varanasi multi-modal terminal, the only one of its kind in India, is further strengthening logistics capabilities.

Urban transport has seen similar strides, with metro rail systems operational in six cities — Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra — and ongoing expansion of the Lucknow Metro. UP also boasts India’s first Rapid Rail Transit System along the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor. In freight logistics, the state plays a crucial role as the junction of the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors.

Since 2017, the state has undertaken an ambitious push in road connectivity, with around 9 km of roads being built or repaired every day. Infrastructure achievements include 270 river bridges, 115 railway overbridges, and a dozen flyovers. Additionally, 46 new national highway routes (totaling 4,100 km) and over 70 state highways (covering 5,600 km) have been developed.

“These efforts are positioning Uttar Pradesh not just as a transportation hub but also as a powerhouse of economic growth,” the spokesperson said.

ET