PWD conducts feasibility studies for upgrading 21 state highways in UP

The public works department (PWD) has started conducting technical and financial feasibility studies to upgrade 21 state highways that connect bustling towns and are expected to experience increased traffic in the future. The goal is to provide improved road safety features and a higher level of service to road users, while also reducing travel time. The first phase of the project will take approximately six to eight months and will involve surveys to estimate traffic volume, engineering requirements, alignment and road safety features, land requirements, pavement, structures, facilities, and the number of toll plazas needed.

Engineer-in-chief and head of the PWD Sandeep Kumar stated that strengthening the road network in towns with high economic activity is necessary to provide better connectivity and reduce travel time. The cost of upgrading a 1-kilometer road stretch (including land acquisition cost) is estimated to be between ₹15 to ₹20 crore, given the current scenario and increased input cost. Only the road stretches that are financially viable will be handed over to private players for development and operations out of the 21 under consideration.