Ganga Expressway alignment final, land proposals being prepared

The alignment of the UP government’s flagship Ganga Expressway Project is final and the preliminary paperwork for the process of land acquisition is under way.

“The land proposals are being prepared, so that the process of land acquisition can begin in right earnest,” an informed source told Business Standard.

The land proposals contain the ‘khasra’ (number) of the land to be acquired from farmers and landowners. Thereafter, the process of negotiations and compensation for the acquired land will begin.

However, work on the expressway, estimated to cost Rs 30,000 crore, could start by the third week of December, the source added.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had suggested some changes in the alignment submitted by the JP Group for the proposed expressway between Greater Noida and Ballia.

The alignment was submitted to the state government by the UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and JP Group in July.

The JP Group had emerged as the winner since it wanted minimum land for development, which was a vital criterion for bid evaluation.

The 1,047-km-long, eight-lane Ganga Expressway will be developed on the left bank of the river Ganga. JP will also get the rights for developing an estimated 30,000 acres along the route.

“Work on the project of such magnitude has to be handled with utmost care and transparency, which may be time-consuming,” a senior official said of the project.

The state government had notified over 625 villages spanning 15 districts falling on the proposed expressway.