IRB Trust to Start Trial Run on Meerut–Budaun Ganga Expressway Stretch, Tolling Soon

The project SPV of IRB Infrastructure Trust, Meerut Budaun Expressway Limited, will begin trial traffic operations on the Meerut–Budaun (Group 1) section of the Ganga Expressway from April 30, 2026, following its inauguration. Tolling on the corridor will commence shortly.

Commenting on the development, Virendra D. Mhaiskar, Chairman and Managing Director of IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited, said the project marks a significant milestone for the group, highlighting its contribution to a complex greenfield expressway featuring a 1 km bridge over the Ganga and multiple structures, completed in record time. He added that the corridor will enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and costs, and support economic growth, while the group remains committed to delivering a high-quality user experience.

The 129.7 km, six-lane access-controlled corridor has been developed at a cost of Rs 6,538 crore, with viable gap funding of Rs 1,746 crore and project financing of Rs 2,659 crore from a consortium of lenders. Equity investment by IRB Infrastructure Trust stands at Rs 2,133 crore. The project has a concession period of 30 years, extendable to 36 years.

The stretch passes through six districts of Uttar Pradesh—Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal and Budaun—and provides improved connectivity to northern states including Delhi, Haryana and Punjab via existing corridors such as the Delhi–Meerut Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway. It is expected to reduce travel time by nearly 50%, improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

The corridor includes major infrastructure such as a 1 km Ganga bridge, nine major flyovers, five major bridges, five interchange flyovers, 14 minor bridges and 90 vehicular underpasses. It is also expected to support industrial corridors, improve logistics for agriculture and industry, ease congestion in the National Capital Region, and boost connectivity to key religious destinations like Varanasi and Prayagraj.

With this project becoming operational, all assets in IRB Infrastructure Trust’s portfolio are now revenue-generating. The group has invested around Rs 25,000 crore across five highway projects in Uttar Pradesh, including BOT and TOT assets such as the Agra–Etawah, Hapur–Moradabad, Lucknow–Ayodhya–Gorakhpur and Lucknow–Sultanpur corridors.