Mandis to line proposed expressway

Sources said the DMs were asked to identify about 100 acres of land in their respective districts along the route of the proposed expressway that can be acquired with “little hassle”.

While there are six districts that fall along the expressway route, Lucknow has been left out for the time being due to lack of availability of land.

“The aim is to boost agricultural-based economy in the region. These mandis would act as the point of interface, where farmers would be able to get better price for their produce. Since these would be placed next to the expressway, fast and easy transportation of items, especially perishable ones, would automatically be facilitated,” said an officer in the State Agricultural Produce Board, which is the nodal agency and would be given the task for construction of these markets.

He said a meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner V N Garg Monday.

About 50 acres of land each in Agra and Kannauj have been identified.

The project is expected to cost over Rs 3,000 crore.

Failing to get companies to invest for the entire stretch, the UP government has decided to build the project in five different stretches from Agra to Lucknow under Engineering, Procurement and Construction model.

The state government has floated a Request for Proposal document for the expressway.

“The process of land acquisition for the expressway has moved much ahead and it is expected that signing of land registries in the name of Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority would start this week, “ said a senior officer.