Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Monday mooted the idea of extending the Noida-Agra Expressway up to Lucknow so that the entire state could benefit from the largest access controlled expressway that was thrown open recently.
The chief minister also instructed concerned officials to ensure more underways, cattle ways and service lanes on the proposed expressway from Agra to Lucknow.
After watching a presentation on the proposed Agra-Lucknow greenfield project, Akhilesh Yadav said that once the expressway was built, farmers en route would gain as their produce would be transported easily to cities and towns.
He added that once the project was complete, a glass city could be established at Firozabad and the distance between Lucknow and Agra would be considerably reduced.
The distance between Agra and Lucknow is 350 km. The Greenfield Expressway will reduce the distance to 274 km and the travel time to three hours.
To prevent flood waters from entering the expressway, it would be levelled higher than now. More than 10 metres on both sides would be green field strips.
The project is estimated to cost Rs.9,500 crore. It will have water bodies and eco-friendly parks.
Towns like Firozabad, Shikohabad, Etawah, Mainpuri, Kannauj and Malihabad would be on the expressway's route.