Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway delay opens the door for 40,000+ trees along the corridor

The launch of the much-awaited 63-km Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway has been delayed by three months, with completion now expected by mid-2026. The hold-up stems from the complex task of shifting a crucial 400-KV power transmission line, a final hurdle after most civil work is already finished.

However, the wait promises a spectacular drive. In a first for Uttar Pradesh, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is undertaking a massive ₹7 crore green mission along the route. Around 46,000 trees, including banyan, peepal, and bamboo, is being planted along the 45-kilometer greenfield stretch. The vision is to create a lush, hill-station-like corridor, not a concrete jungle, with over a thousand trees per kilometre.

Once completed, the six-lane expressway will be a travel revolution, cutting the journey between the two cities from 120 minutes to just 70. It will also connect seamlessly to the Ganga Expressway via a new interchange in Unnao, opening up smooth routes to Meerut and Prayagraj. The short delay is shaping a landmark project, a rapid transit corridor cradled in a new forest.