Lucknow, In a significant development, the nearing completion of the expansive 105-km-long outer ring road (ORR) around Lucknow is poised to divert approximately 1.60 lakh vehicles daily. Spearheaded by Saurabh Chaurasia, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project director, the ORR boasts 157 entries and exits, aiming to ease traffic congestion on multiple national and state highways traversing the state capital.
Better traffic management is anticipated on key routes such as Faizabad Road (NH-28), Sultanpur Road (NH-56), Rae Bareli Road (NH-24B), Kanpur Road (NH-25), Mohan Road (SH-40), Hardoi Road (SH-25), Sitapur Road (NH-24), and Dewa Road (Major District Road 88C) post its launch.
Chaurasia emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “The outer ring road will be able to handle four times more traffic than this.” The ORR, designed with eight lanes that expand to 10 lanes at crucial highway crossings, aims to alleviate Lucknow from the burden of heavy vehicular traffic, particularly during night hours.
Strategically intersecting five national and six state highways, the ORR positions Lucknow as a key hub for economic activities and regional integration. Diwakar Tripathi, a representative of Lucknow MP and defense minister Rajnath Singh, highlighted the ORR’s features, including 26 bridges, six railway overbridges, 12 flyovers, 34 underpasses, and a network of 157 entry and exit points.
Tripathi added, “The ORR will not only offload Lucknow’s vehicular traffic but also act as a catalyst for trade, employment, tourism, and real estate growth.” Covering 105.327 kilometers and spanning 43 villages, the project required the acquisition of approximately 1,500 acres of land from Barabanki and Lucknow districts.
As Lucknow eagerly awaits the operationalization of the ORR, it signals a significant stride in enhancing the city’s transportation infrastructure and fostering economic development.
