Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the 91.35-kilometre-long Gorakhpur Link Expressway on Tuesday, marking a major step forward in Uttar Pradesh’s ongoing infrastructure development drive. The expressway, constructed under the supervision of the. Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), connects Gorakhpur with the Purvanchal Expressway near Azamgarh, significantly improving road connectivity in the eastern part of the state.
Built at an estimated cost of ₹5,876 crore, the expressway passes through the districts of Gorakhpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, and Sant Kabir Nagar. The project includes a four-lane road, expandable to six lanes, with modern features such as flyovers, underpasses, service roads, emergency response systems, and digital surveillance infrastructure. The road is expected to reduce travel time between Gorakhpur and Lucknow to under four hours.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister stated that the expressway would act as a lifeline for Purvanchal, bringing new opportunities for employment, trade, and industrial development. He added that this was not merely a road project but a long-term investment in the state’s economic and strategic growth.
Local residents and leaders have expressed optimism that the expressway will boost real estate, logistics, and local industries, while also providing better access to education and healthcare facilities. It is also expected to play an important role in the UP Defence Industrial Corridor, offering improved connectivity for defence-related infrastructure.
The expressway, completed despite various logistical challenges including weather disruptions and pandemic-related delays, is seen as a testament to the state’s push for fast-tracked infrastructure delivery. Officials confirmed that the project was completed on time and according to modern engineering standards.
With this launch, the Gorakhpur Link Expressway becomes the latest addition to a growing network of high-speed corridors in Uttar Pradesh, alongside the Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, and the Ganga Expressway, all of which aim to transform the state into a national hub of transport and industry.
