A representative photo
By M. Riyaz Hashmi
Travel between Delhi-NCR, Haryana and eastern Uttar Pradesh is set for a major transformation. The 739.95-km Shamli-Gorakhpur Expressway, one of the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) flagship greenfield highway projects, has moved a step closer to execution after NHAI applied for final forest clearance for its 391.77-km Phase 2, stretching from Powayan (Shahjahanpur) to Gorakhpur.
More than just another expressway, the project is designed to become a high-speed economic and transport corridor linking Delhi-NCR with Purvanchal. Once completed, travel time between Shamli and Gorakhpur is expected to reduce from around 12 hours to just 7.5 hours, significantly improving passenger and freight movement. One of the project’s biggest strengths is its strategic integration with existing and upcoming expressways.
Phase 1 will begin near Shamli, at the junction of the Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Expressway and the proposed Ambala-Shamli Expressway. This means vehicles from Delhi will be able to travel via the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and directly enter the Shamli-Gorakhpur Expressway without relying heavily on conventional highways through Meerut, Hapur or Ghaziabad.
Although located primarily in Uttar Pradesh, the expressway’s benefits extend far beyond the state.
Faster and smoother travel between Delhi-NCR and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Improved road connectivity for Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar in Haryana. A new high-speed freight corridor connecting Punjab and Haryana with eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Lower logistics costs and shorter transport time for agriculture, manufacturing and other industries.
A 740-km mega expressway in two phases
NHAI has divided the project into two sections:
Phase 1: Shamli to Powayan (Shahjahanpur) – 348.18 km
Phase 2: Powayan to Gorakhpur – 391.77 km
The combined length of both phases will be 739.95 km.
The project also includes a 42.2-km Moradabad Link Road, which will connect the main expressway with NH-9, improving connectivity for Moradabad and nearby districts. A section of the expressway will also pass through Uttarakhand for a few kilometres, strengthening interstate connectivity and facilitating economic activity between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
According to the proposed alignment, the expressway will not pass through Ayodhya city. However, it will run close to the Ayodhya region, and future interchanges and connecting roads could provide faster access for devotees travelling to the Ram Temple.
The entire expressway will be developed as a greenfield, access-controlled highway, meaning it will be built on a new alignment with controlled entry and exit points. Vehicles will access the corridor only through designated interchanges, ensuring safer, faster and uninterrupted travel.
The project is expected to create a new high-speed transport and economic corridor linking Delhi-NCR, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Purvanchal. With NHAI moving ahead on the forest clearance process, the project has crossed another key administrative milestone. Once the required approvals are granted, the next stages of construction are expected to accelerate.
What is the Shamli-Gorakhpur Expressway Project?
The Shamli-Gorakhpur Expressway is a proposed 739.95-km, six-lane (expandable to eight lanes) greenfield, access-controlled expressway being developed by NHAI.
Its primary objective is to provide fast and seamless connectivity between western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Haryana and the Purvanchal region, including districts near the Nepal border.
The corridor will integrate with several major expressways, including:
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
Ambala-Shamli Expressway
Ganga Expressway
Lucknow-Gorakhpur Expressway
Purvanchal Expressway
Together, these links are expected to strengthen northern India’s expressway network significantly.
When will it be completed?
NHAI has not yet announced an official completion timeline for the project. It is currently undergoing forest clearance, land acquisition and other statutory approvals.
However, project documents prepared after the completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) indicate that the expressway is targeted for completion in approximately three years after construction begins, subject to timely clearances and execution.
