Ganga Expressway project gets Environmental Clearance

State-level environmental impact assessment committee in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has given Environmental Clearance (EC) for construction of ambitious Ganga Expressway project of UP government.

Key Points

• According to a 2006 notification of Union Ministry of Environment, environment clearance for these projects covered under the schedule was mandatory.
• UPEIDA obtained the EC for Ganga Expressway Project was based on the 2006 notification.

Ganga Expressway Project

• The Ganga Expressway Project is a greenfield six-lane expressway project.
• It is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 36,230 crore.
• The expressway connects Meerut in west UP to Prayagraj in east UP.
• It will be around 594 km long and 6-lane wide, which can further be expanded to eight lanes.

Districts through which expressway will pass

Ganga expressway will pass through 12 districts in Uttar Pradesh. These districts are: Meerut-Hapur-Bulandshahar-Amroha-Sambhal-Badaun-Shahjahanpur-Hardoi-Unnao-Raebareli-Pratapgarh-Prayagraj, from west to east in that order.

Which bank is supporting the project?

Uttar Pradesh government received the sanction letter for Rs 5100 crore loan for this project from Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Background

Ganga Expressway project was launched in the year 2007 by the then Chief Minister of UP Mayawati. However, its work started only after CM Yogi Adityanath assumed office. The project was launched with the aim of constructing a 1,047 km access-controlled 8-lane wide expressway along the Ganga River. It will connect Greater Noida to Ballia. The expressway will also serve as a flood control embankment in this area.

Allahabad HC order

Construction work on this expressway was not started then, following an order from Allahabad High Court. Court had instructed the state and concessionaire to do a full environmental study and obtain permission & environmental clearance from central government before its construction.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2021