Union Ministers Rajnath, Gadkari inaugurate Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday jointly inaugurated the 63-km Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway in Lucknow, a project expected to cut travel time between the two cities from over two hours to 40 minutes.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Singh said the demand for a highway between Kanpur and Lucknow had been pending for a long time, and that its inauguration had resolved the long-standing problem of traffic congestion between the two cities.

“The demand for the construction of a highway from Kanpur to Lucknow had been pending for a long time, and I want to express my gratitude to Nitin Gadkari for this — that as soon as he received the information about it, he immediately approved it. Today, I have come to say that you have given a lot, and if I ask for something more in the future, you will not delay in giving that too. With the opening of the expressway, the long-standing problem of traffic congestion between the two cities has been resolved. In March 2019, the foundation stone of the project was laid,” Mr. Singh said.

The projects inaugurated included the Kanpur-Lucknow six-lane Expressway and the four-laning of the Hardoi-Lucknow National Highway (Package 4), while the foundation stone was laid for a four-lane flyover at Engineering College Chauraha.

Mr. Gadkari said that in view of the steadily increasing traffic between Lucknow and Kanpur, with hours-long jams and journey times of up to three hours, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared at an estimated cost of around ₹4,500 crore. The objective of the project was to provide world-class, safe, and fast connectivity between the two cities.

In December 2020, the Union government accorded it the status of National Expressway-6 (NE-6) in view of its importance, making it the country’s first expressway fully equipped with AI-based and modern traffic management systems. To expedite construction, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) divided the project into two packages, with the work entrusted to PNC Infratech. The first package comprised an approximately 18-km elevated section connecting to the Amausi and Shaheed Path areas of Lucknow.

“Despite challenges such as dense population, traffic, and land acquisition, engineers successfully completed this complex section using modern technology. The second package comprised an approximately 45-km greenfield section developed on new land. The route passes through 11 villages in Lucknow and 31 villages in Unnao,” Mr. Gadkari said.

A standout aspect of the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway is its advanced technology. Automated Machine Guidance construction systems were widely used during the road-building process; machines operated via computer and satellite technology enhanced the precision, strength, and durability of construction, significantly improving quality while greatly minimising the risk of human error. Another notable feature is its Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, with no traditional toll plazas — vehicles can travel at speeds of up to 120 kmph without stopping, and toll charges are deducted automatically through advanced FASTag and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

On safety, the expressway ranks among the country’s most modern road corridors, with more than 80 high-definition cameras, 16 Video Incident Detection Systems, and speed radars installed along the 63-km stretch. If a vehicle exceeds the prescribed speed limit, an automatic challan will be generated directly from the control room, according to an official government statement.

U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath thanked the Union Defence Minister and the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and congratulated the people of the state.

“As I participate in the inauguration of National Highway projects worth more than Rs 4,850 crore in Lucknow, I express my gratitude to the Hon’ble Union Defence Minister and the Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and congratulate the people of the state. In line with the vision of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, today ‘New Uttar Pradesh’ has been established as an excellent model of good governance with excellent security and world-class infrastructure,” the U.P. CM said.