Noida-Ghaziabad to Dehradun via Meerut: How Upper Ganga Canal Expressway will transform UP-Uttarakhand travel

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The Upper Ganga Canal Expressway project, which was initiated 11 years ago to provide direct highway connectivity between Noida, Greater Noida, and Dehradun, is set to resume after a prolonged halt. The ambitious eight-lane expressway, which was initially started in 2013 but halted shortly after, will now progress, linking Greater Noida with Sanauta and Ghaziabad, and continuing through Meerut and Muzaffarnagar before ultimately reaching Purkazi in Dehradun.

The government has planned to finish the project by November 2025, Zee News reported. It also includes the development of a 23.5 km Link Expressway connecting South-West Meerut to the Meerut Airport and the DFC terminal infrastructure. Furthermore, a new 3.5 km expressway will be constructed adjacent to NH-24 near Dasna Falls.

Land for the proposed development has been designated at six key points along the route to strengthen logistics capabilities. This will enhance navigation, promote tourism, and create opportunities for water sports along the canal. Moreover, seven hydroelectric power plants along the route will be upgraded and expanded.

The budget of Rs 8,700 crore was released to construct 147.8 kilometres of expressway, starting at the Sanauta bridge in Bulandshahr and extending to Purkazi in Muzaffarnagar along the Ganga Canal until reaching the UP-Uttarakhand border.

Once completed, the expressway will link Greater Noida to Purkazi in Dehradun, passing through locations such as Sanauta, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, and Deoband. Although construction of the project began in 2013, it was later halted.

The expressway is set to improve connectivity between the two states, providing a smoother travel experience for commuters. The expressway will also foster industrial, commercial, and residential development.