Yogi Adityanath to inaugurate Gorakhpur Link Expressway today

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Gorakhpur Link Expressway on Friday, June 20, 2025. This major new road project is expected to improve road connectivity across eastern Uttar Pradesh and help boost the development of the region. The inauguration ceremony took place at two locations — Salarpur in Azamgarh and the Bhagwanpur toll plaza near Gorakhpur.

After launching the project in Azamgarh, the chief minister travelled along the expressway and concluded the event in Gorakhpur. The newly completed Gorakhpur Link Expressway stretches 91.35 kilometres and connects Jaitpur in Gorakhpur to Salarpur in Azamgarh. At Salarpur, the expressway merges with the already-operational Purvanchal Expressway, allowing smoother travel between the two regions.

Built at a cost of ₹7,283 crore, the Gorakhpur Link Expressway has been designed as a fully access-controlled four-lane highway, with future plans to expand it to six lanes. The route passes through four districts: Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, and Azamgarh.

The construction was divided into two parts. The first part, from Jaitpur to Phulwaria (48.31 km), was built by APCO Infratech Pvt Ltd. The second part, from Phulwaria to Salarpur (43.03 km), was handled by Dilip Buildcon Ltd. The project also involved land acquisition from local farmers.

Gorakhpur district magistrate Krishna Karunesh confirmed that all preparations for the inauguration had been completed at both sites. The event marked a significant milestone in Uttar Pradesh’s push for faster transportation and better infrastructure.

Faster routes and added safety

One of the biggest benefits of this expressway is reduced travel time. It will now take only 3.5 hours to reach Lucknow from Gorakhpur, which used to take much longer. Within Gorakhpur itself, residents will also save time while traveling to places like Urwa, Dhuriyapar, Khajni, and Belghat. For example, the journey from Gorakhpur to Urwa, which earlier took about an hour, will now take only 20 to 25 minutes.

The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has also taken steps to ensure safety on the expressway. A dedicated security fleet has been launched, which includes five Innova cars, five Camper vehicles, four ambulances, two cranes, and one Hydra vehicle. These will be on standby to help commuters in case of emergencies or accidents. A full security rehearsal was conducted at the Bhagwanpur toll plaza the day before the launch.

In addition, the expressway has been equipped with modern traffic systems, including CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and speed monitoring systems. These tools will help manage traffic, maintain road safety, and enforce rules effectively.

Chief minister Adityanath also visited photo galleries set up by UPEIDA at both the Azamgarh and Gorakhpur ends of the expressway. He posed for pictures with workers from the construction companies to thank them for their efforts and boost their morale.

As part of a green initiative to mark the occasion, the chief minister planted a Harishankari tree sapling near the Bhagwanpur toll plaza. Other ministers and public officials also joined in the tree-planting ceremony.
The Gorakhpur Link Expressway is now the seventh operational expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Of these seven, five have been completed in the last eight years. Three more expressways are currently under construction, and eight more are in the planning phase.

With this addition, Uttar Pradesh now has the longest network of expressways in India. These roads are helping the state move faster toward economic growth and better regional connectivity.

Some of the other major expressways in the state include:

• Purvanchal Expressway (341 km, from Lucknow to Ghazipur)

• Bundelkhand Expressway (296 km, from Chitrakoot to Etawah)

• Agra-Lucknow Expressway (302 km)

• Yamuna Expressway (165 km, from Greater Noida to Agra)

• Delhi-Meerut Expressway (82 km)

• Noida-Greater Noida Expressway (25 km)

Now the Gorakhpur Link Expressway (91 km) joins this list.

Ongoing expressway projects include the Ganga Expressway (591 km), Ballia Link Expressway (35 km), and Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway (63 km). All of these are expected to be completed in the near future and will add even more connectivity across the state.

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Support for farmers

One of the most important parts of this project was the land acquisition. Around 1,148 hectares of land was acquired from 172 villages across four districts. The state government has provided ₹2,030 crore in compensation to 22,029 farmers whose land was used for the project.

Chief minister Adityanath had earlier met and honoured the farmers who gave land for the expressway. At the inauguration ceremony, he again praised their contribution and recognised them for playing a key role in the development of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

This new expressway is expected to bring multiple benefits to the region. Apart from saving travel time, it will support trade, reduce traffic congestion on older highways, and attract new investments by improving access to remote areas.

The expressway project also reflects the state government's larger goal to build world-class infrastructure and connect all parts of the state with high-speed roads. With its strategic design and modern features, the Gorakhpur Link Expressway is set to play an important role in the future development of eastern Uttar Pradesh.