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PM Modi unveils Bundelkhand Expressway: 10 things to know about 296-km road
The 296-km four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around ₹14,850 crore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 296 km-long Bundelkhand Expressway at a programme in Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun district. “This expressway will link Bundelkhand to development, self-employment and other opportunities,” the prime minister told the crowd that cheered him on.
"If two things- law & order situation & connectivity were to be corrected, I knew this would become a state that can fight against all odds. We improved both. Law & order situation is improving, so is connectivity," he said.
Here are 10 things to know about the Bundelkhand Expressway:
1. The 296-km four-lane expressway has been constructed at a cost of around ₹14,850 crore under the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
2. From four lanes, the expressway can later be expanded up to six lanes as well.
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3. The expressway is set to give a major boost to connectivity and industrial development in the region - resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs for the local people.
4. It extends from NH-35 at Gonda village near Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot district to near Kudrail village in Etawah district, where it merges with the Agra-Lucknow expressway.
5. The expressway will pass through seven districts, viz. Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.
6. The foundation stone of the expressway was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2020. The work on the Expressway has been completed within 28 months.
7. Work on the creation of an industrial corridor in the Banda and Jalaun districts - next to the expressway has already begun.
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8. According to PM Modi, the local economy will benefit tremendously due to the expressway. “There will be great industrial development in the region and this would bring more opportunities for the local youth,” he said.
9. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the government has been committed to enhancing connectivity across the country - a key feature of which has been the work towards improvement in road infrastructure.
10. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Jalaun ahead of PM Modi's visit. An intensive checking campaign is also being conducted in all the hotels and restaurants of Orai, the district headquarter.
