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Purvanchal Expressway: Route Details, Location, Length, Speed Limit, Toll Fee and FAQ
The Purvanchal Expressway is a 341-km, six-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway in Uttar Pradesh. It connects Lucknow with Ghazipur near the Bihar border, which makes it a major link between the state capital and eastern UP. Operations began in 2021. The Gorakhpur Link Expressway (91.3 km) joins it at Azamgarh, and one source says that link was completed in June 2025.
Details table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Start | Chand Sarai village, Lucknow |
| End | Haidaria village, Ghazipur (near the Bihar border) |
| Length | About 340.8 km (also given as 340.82 or 341 km) |
| Lanes | 6, expandable to 8 |
| Built by | UPEIDA, in 8 packages awarded to 5 contractors |
| Project cost | About ₹22,500 crore (₹225 billion) |
| Design speed | 120 km/h |
| Posted limit | Around 100 km/h for cars and 80 km/h for trucks and buses |
| Car toll (full route) | About ₹675 (with a 25% discount, a 2025 figure). Another source says roughly ₹700 at around ₹2.15/km |
| Travel time | About 3.5–4 hours by car, versus 8+ hours earlier |
| Service road | About 402 km |
| Trees planted | About 450,000 in the right of way |
Route details and location
- It runs east from Lucknow through Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur. The Wikipedia list shows interchanges at Raebareli–Faizabad Road, Sultanpur–Faizabad Road, Sultanpur–Akbarpur Road, Azamgarh–Tanda Road and Mau–Ghazipur Road, among others.
- An airstrip for emergency Air Force landings is built into the corridor.
- Proposed extensions include a link from Ghazipur to Bihar and a roughly 31-km Ballia Link Expressway.
- The old routes between Lucknow and Ghazipur were 354–363 km and took about 8–8.5 hours.
Speed limit
- The expressway was designed for 120 km/h, but the posted limit is lower, at about 100 km/h for cars and 80 km/h for trucks and buses.
- Slower vehicles such as two-wheelers, three-wheelers and tractors are generally prohibited on expressways like this.
- AI-based traffic management systems monitor speeds.
Toll fee
- Car toll for the full Lucknow–Ghazipur trip is about ₹675 (2025, with a 25% discount) or roughly ₹700 at the standard rate.
- The sources disagree on the number of toll plazas. One says 6, another says 8 (4 main and 4 ramp), so check at the entry point.
- FASTag is recommended, and manned booths take cash.
FAQ
How long is it?
About 341 km.
How long does the drive take?
About 3.5–4 hours.
Can bikes use it?
Generally no, as two-wheelers are banned on this type of expressway.
Are there facilities?
Petrol pumps, restrooms and food courts are being developed at designated points, so fuel up before entering.
Does it connect to other expressways?
Yes, the Gorakhpur Link at Azamgarh, and it ties into the Agra-Lucknow Expressway network.
Who built it?
UPEIDA.
