Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 16 national highway projects. These projects will constitute a total road length of 505 kilometres, involving a construction value of nearly Rs 7500 crore. These projects include: Widening to 4-lane from Meerut to Bulandhshahar of NH-235, construction of 4-lane Gorakhpur bypass from JungalKaudiya of NH-24 to Kaleshwar on NH-27, rehabilitation & Up-gradation of NH-76 from Kabrai to Banda in district of Mahoba& Banda, rehabilitation & Up-gradation of NH-76 from Mau to Jasra in district of Chitrakoot & Prayagraj, rehabilitation & Up-gradation to 4-lane of NH-96 from Pratapgarh to Prayagraj bypass in district of Pratapgarh & Prayagraj, rehabilitation & up-gradation of NH-730 from Barhani to Kataya in district of Siddharthnagar, rehabilitation & up-gradation of NH-730 from Bahraich to Shrawasti in district of Bahraich & Shrawasti, construction of ROB in lieu of COD crossing (LC no.79D) in Kanpur district.
Road projects pending for foundation laying ceremony include: strengthening of NH-75E in the district of Sonebhadra from MP/UP border to UP/Jharkhand border, strengthening of NH-75E in the district of Sonebhadra from MP/UP border to UP/Jharkhand border, widening and strengthening of NH-91A from Bharthana Chowk to Kudarkoot in district of Etawah & Auraiya, widening & strengthening of NH-135C from Drumandganj to Halia in district of Mirzapur, widening & strengthening of NH-135C from Rampur to Bhadewara in district of Prayagraj, widening & Strengthening of NH-227 between Sikringanj & Gola in district of Gorakhpur, widening & strengthening of NH-730 between Tamkuhiraj & Padrauna in district of Kushinagar. These projects, on completion, will provide faster and hassle-free inter-state and inter-district connectivity, and strengthen tourism sector of the state. The Minister also called upon the state government to exempt toll plaza agreements from stamp duty.