'Runway For National Security': UP Becomes First Indian State To Feature 4 Airstrips On Its Expressways

News18

01-05-2025

The airstrip on Ganga Expressway will have advanced lighting and navigation systems to facilitate night landings of fighter aircraft, a first for any road runway in India.
With the Ganga Expressway now featuring a dedicated airstrip capable of facilitating night landings for fighter jets, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to have four operational airstrips on its expressways. This development reinforces the state's leadership in expressway-led growth and defence synergy.
'This is not just a road. This is a lifeline for development and a runway for national security," said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to the airstrip site in Shahjahanpur district. He emphasised that the Ganga Expressway, a 594-kilometre long greenfield project connecting Meerut to Prayagraj, will not only connect cities and people but also link aspirations with action and security with speed.
The expressway promises to significantly reduce travel time across western and eastern UP and is set to make history as the first expressway in the country where fighter jets can land at night. This capability is crucial for wartime readiness and disaster response.
Night Landing: A National First
The airstrip, being constructed over 3.2 kilometres of the expressway, is designed with modern aviation-grade specifications. It will be equipped with advanced lighting and navigation systems to facilitate night landings of Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft, a first for any road runway in India.
Officials with the UP Government stated that the Ganga Expressway will feature CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS) equipment, precision approach lighting, and reinforced pavement strength to withstand aircraft weight. 'Night landing on a road airstrip is a complex engineering challenge requiring stringent specifications, and we are proud that Ganga Expressway will set a new benchmark in the country," said Awanish Awasthi, advisor to the CM and former Additional Chief Secretary (Home), who has closely overseen the expressway projects.
Four Strategic Airstrips – A First in India
The Ganga Expressway joins the elite list of UP expressways with integrated airstrips, following the successful establishment of airstrips on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway (Unnao district), Purvanchal Expressway (Amethi district), and Bundelkhand Expressway (Jalaun district).
In October 2017, the Agra–Lucknow Expressway witnessed the historic landing of six IAF jets, including the Mirage-2000 and Sukhoi-30 MKI, on a specially developed stretch in Bangarmau, Unnao. This event marked a significant milestone in India's effort to develop highway airstrips, inspired by military road runways in countries like Germany, Sweden, and China.
The momentum continued with the inauguration of the Purvanchal Expressway in November 2021, where a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft made a dramatic touchdown during its launch event in Sultanpur, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bundelkhand Expressway, inaugurated in 2022, became the third such expressway in the state to feature an airstrip.
With the addition of the Shahjahanpur airstrip on the Ganga Expressway, Uttar Pradesh has firmly established its 'four-runway model" for expressway development, a rare feat not yet matched by any other state in the country.
'This model will serve as a blueprint for other states. The integration of airstrips into civilian expressways not only enhances military preparedness but also ensures rapid response during disasters like earthquakes or floods," said Lt Gen (Retd) Anil Kumar Bhatt, former Director General of Military Operations.
A Highway to Progress and Security
Once completed, the Ganga Expressway will pass through 12 districts and is expected to reduce the travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 11 hours to just 6 hours. The project, developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), is also designed to support economic corridors, logistics hubs, and industrial clusters.
The Rs 36,230 crore mega project is being executed in two phases. The first phase covers Meerut to Prayagraj (594 km), while the second phase will extend to Haridwar and Varanasi, enhancing connectivity to pilgrimage sites. More than 90 per cent of the land acquisition has already been completed, and the expressway is slated for partial opening by the end of 2025.
'This expressway will bring prosperity to every farmer, trader, youth, and pilgrim. From agriculture to industry, from tourism to defense, this road will power every engine of growth," said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his recent visit to Ganga Expressway, highlighting its role in boosting development in the state.
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The CM also praised the state's infrastructure achievements over the last seven years. 'From two expressways in 2017 to a network of more than 1,800 kilometre of high-speed expressways in 2025 — this is the new Uttar Pradesh. This is the double engine government delivering double speed results," he asserted.
With multiple expressways like the Yamuna Expressway, Agra–Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, and now the Ganga Expressway, the state has emerged as the logistics and infrastructure hub of northern India. As the CM's convoy rolled past the near-complete stretch in Shahjahanpur, the roar of fighter jets landing at night no longer seemed a distant dream.
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tags :
Ganga Expressway uttar pradesh
Location :
Lucknow, India, India
First Published:
May 01, 2025, 10:31 IST
News india 'Runway For National Security': UP Becomes First Indian State To Feature 4 Airstrips On Its Expressways