Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Purvanchal Expressway at Karwal Kheri in Sultanpur district on Tuesday. Prime Minister reached Karwal Kheri on C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft for the event. He had laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway three years back in 2018. 

At the outset, the prime minister said, "Those who have any doubt on the capabilities of Uttar Pradesh, on the capabilities of people of UP should come to Sultanpur today to witness their capability. Such a modern expressway has now come up where it was just a piece of land 3-4 years back".

PM Modi criticised previous UP governments for ignoring all-around and holistic development. One region of Uttar Pradesh and its people was given away to mafia and poverty. "I'm happy that today this region is writing a new chapter of development, " he added. 

He underscored the strategic importance of the Purvanchal Expressway for the country's security. 

PM Modi said, "A country's security is as important as its prosperity. In a short while from now, we will see that how Purvanchal Expressway has now become one more power for the Indian Air Force in cases of emergency. Our fighter plane will land on the expressway shortly. The roar of these aircraft will also be for the people who ignored the defence infrastructure of the nation for decades". 

Purvanchal Expressway: 

The Purvanchal Expressway is 341 Km long. It starts from village Chaudsarai, district Lucknow located on Lucknow-Sultanpur road (NH-731) and ends at village Hydaria located on National Highway No. 31, 18 km east of UP-Bihar border. The expressway is 6-lane wide which can be expanded to 8-lane in future. 

Constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs 22500 crore, the Purvanchal Expressway is going to give a boost to the economic development of the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh especially the districts of Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur.