[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Transport Network in UP

1. Road Transport & Expressways (The “Expressway Pradesh”)

Trend: Shift from “Connectivity” to “Economic Corridors” and “Greenfield Projects.”

A. Expressway Network (Backbone of Economy)

• Operational Network: Yamuna, Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal, and Bundelkhand Expressways.
• Under Construction (The Big Push):
  • Ganga Expressway (594 km): Connecting Meerut to Prayagraj.
    • Status : Main carriageway operationalized for Mahakumbh 2025; full commercial operations expected by late 2025/early 2026.
  • Link Expressways:
    • Gorakhpur Link: Connecting Gorakhpur to Purvanchal Expressway (Operationalized 2024-25).
    • Chitrakoot Link: Connecting Bundelkhand Expressway to the spiritual hub.
• New Announcements (Budget 2025-26):
  • Jewar-Ganga Link Expressway: A greenfield project (approx. 76 km) approved to connect Noida International Airport directly to the Ganga Expressway.
  • Vindhya Expressway: Planning stage to connect Mirzapur/Sonbhadra mining belts.

B. State Road Transport (UPSRTC)

• Fleet Modernization:
  • Capital Support: The 2025-26 Budget allocated over ₹700 Crore for acquiring new buses, including Euro-VI diesel and electric buses.
  • Mahakumbh Special: Deployment of 7,000+ special buses, including Double-Decker Electric Buses in Lucknow and Prayagraj for tourism.
• Safety: Implementation of the “Road Safety Fortnight” (Jan 2025) focusing on reducing black spots on state highways.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• EV Policy Update: The UP government revised its EV Subsidy Policy in late 2025 to restrict subsidies only to “Made in UP” vehicles to boost local manufacturing (Tata, Ashok Leyland units).
• Smart Mobility: Introduction of Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) in 17 municipal corporations to issue e-challans.

2. Rail & Metro Transport (Urban Mobility Revolution)

Trend: “RRTS Integration” and “State Capital Region (SCR) Mobility.”

A. Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)

• Corridor: Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut (82 km).
• Status : The full corridor is scheduled for commercial operations by September 2025.
• Impact: Reduces travel time between Delhi and Meerut to <60 minutes; creates a transit-oriented development (TOD) zone in Western UP.

B. Metro Rail Expansion

• Operational: Lucknow, Kanpur, Noida-Greater Noida, Agra (Priority Corridor).
• New Projects:
  • Agra Metro: Full corridor (Taj East Gate to Sikandra) expedited for 2026 completion.
  • Gorakhpur Metrolite: Approved as a cost-effective light rail system.
• State Capital Region (SCR) Plan: The newly notified SCR (Lucknow + 6 districts) includes a blueprint for a Regional Circular Rail network connecting Lucknow, Unnao, and Barabanki.

C. Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)

• Junction: Dadri (Greater Noida) is the critical junction where the Eastern DFC (Ludhiana to Dankuni) and Western DFC (Dadri to JNPT) meet, making UP the Logistics Hub of North India.

3. Air Transport (The Global Gateway)

Trend: “International Hubs” and “RCS-UDAN” for regional connectivity.

A. 5 International Airports Strategy

1. Lucknow (Amausi): Expanded Terminal 3 operational.
2. Varanasi (LBSI): Expansion for wide-body aircraft approved.
3. Kushinagar: Operational (Buddhist Circuit).
4. Ayodhya (Maharishi Valmiki): Phase 2 expansion for international flights approved in 2025.
5. Noida International Airport (Jewar):
   • Status: Commercial operations pushed to late 2025/Jan 2026 due to pending clearances.
   • Significance: Asia’s largest cargo and transit hub upon completion.

B. Regional Connectivity

• New Airports: Development of airports in Azamgarh, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, and Shravasti under the RCS-UDAN scheme to boost local tourism and business.

4. Inland Water Transport (Jal Marg)

Trend: “Arth Ganga” and “Multi-modal Terminals.”

A. National Waterway-1 (Ganga)

• Route: Prayagraj to Haldia (1620 km).
• Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): Targeted completion by December 2025.
• Infrastructure:
  • Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT): Operational at Varanasi (Ramnagar).
  • Inter-Modal Terminal: Under construction at Kalughat and Ghazipur.

B. New Initiatives

• River Cruise Tourism: Post the success of MV Ganga Vilas, new jetties are being constructed in Mathura-Vrindavan (NW-110, Yamuna) and Ayodhya (Saryu) for religious tourism circuits.

5. Logistics & Regulatory Framework

Trend: “Warehousing Policy” and “Urban Transport Safety.”

A. Warehousing & Logistics Policy

• Industry Status: Warehousing given “Industry Status” to lower power tariffs and conversion costs.
• Park Policy: Incentives for private players to set up Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) near expressways (e.g., Tappal-Bajna near Jewar).

B. Regulatory Reforms

• UP Lifts and Escalators Act, 2024: A new law passed to regulate the safety of lifts/escalators in public transport hubs (Metro stations, Airports) and commercial buildings, mandating registration and insurance.
• Scrappage Policy: Tax concessions for vehicle owners scrapping old commercial vehicles at registered facilities (RVSF) in Kanpur and Noida.