New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 341 km long Purvanchal Expressway on Tuesday afternoon.  Prime Minister Modi landed at Karwal Kheri in Sultanpur on C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft to attend the inaugural event.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the event after the launch. Key Points of PM Modi's speech:



  • PM Modi said that he feels delighted to inaugurate the Purvanchal Expressway and when he laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway 3 years back, he had never thought that he will land on the same expressway today. 

  • PM Modi said that those who have any doubt about the capabilities 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.

  • The Prime Minister said that for the all-around development of the country, the balanced development of the country is equally important. Some areas marching ahead in the race of development and some areas lagging decades behind isn't right for any country, hence the centre is focusing on every area.

  • Targetting the previous governments and the opposition parties, PM Modi said, "The politics done in UP, the manner in which govts were run for a long time - they didn't pay attention to UP's all-around and holistic development. One region of UP and its people were given away to mafia and poverty. I'm happy that today this region is writing a new chapter of development."

  • PM Modi said that the country's security is as important as its prosperity. Purvanchal Expressway has now become one more power for the Indian Air Force in cases of emergency

  • Talking about the airshow performed after the inaugural event, PM Modi said, "The roar of these aircraft will also be for the people who ignored the defence infrastructure of the nation for decades."

  • PM Modi said that he initiated a lot of projects for UP. Poor were given pucca houses, toilets were ensured in their houses so that women did not need to step out to relieve themselves. BJP govt ensured that every house should have electricity - and a lot of other necessary things were taken up. 

  • PM Modi said, "But I'm pained that the then UP govt didn't cooperate. They were also scared of upsetting their vote banks by standing beside me in public. I used to come as an MP, they used to disappear after receiving me at the airport. They were ashamed as they had nothing to show as work."

  • PM Modi said that the Govt before Yogi ji did injustice to people of UP. The manner in which they discriminated in development, the manner in which they did welfare of only their family - people of UP will permanently remove them from the path of the state's development, you did this in 2017


After the address, the Prime Minister witnessed an airshow by the Indian Air Force on the 3.2 kilometre airstrip constructed on the expressway in Sultanpur district. The airstrip will enable landing and take-off of IAF fighter planes in case of emergency.


The area around the programme venue in Sultanpur was decorated in saffron colour while the airstrip and the divider were also festooned. Heavy security arrangements were made for the event.


Fighter aircrafts performed touch-and-go operations on the expressway. Sukhoi, Mirage, Rafale, and AN-32 aircraft presented an exquisite air show.


About Purvanchal Expressway


The Purvanchal Expressway is over 341 km long. It starts from Chandsarai village in Lucknow and ends at Haidaria village located on National Highway 31 in Ghazipur (18 km from UP-Bihar border).

It is a six-lane expressway that can be expanded to eight lanes in future.

Constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs 22,500 crore, the Purvanchal Expressway is going to give a boost to the economic development of eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, especially the districts of Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur, according to PMO. 

In July 2018, Modi laid the foundation of the Purvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh.