Rajesh Shekhar, Ayodhya: The long-awaited and ambitious Ayodhya–Gonda–Balrampur six-lane National Highway project for Devipatan Mandal has been finalized and sent to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for approval. Once completed, the 65-kilometre-long highway is expected to provide a major boost to transport, tourism, and industrial development across the region.

The proposed highway will include an 8-kilometre stretch of the Ayodhya Ring Road. The project gained significant momentum following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir, after which the originally planned Ayodhya–Gonda route was extended up to Balrampur. The highway will further connect with the Gorakhpur–Shamli Greenfield Expressway, strengthening connectivity between Purvanchal and the Terai region.

Shorter Distances, Faster Connectivity

Of the total length, 57 kilometres of the existing road from the Ayodhya Ring Road near Maheshpur in Nawabganj will be upgraded. The route will pass through agricultural fields instead of congested areas, connect with the proposed Gonda city ring road, cross the old Gonda–Balrampur route, and finally merge with the Shamli Expressway from the west.

After completion of the project, the distance from Ayodhya to Gonda will reduce to just 35 kilometres, while Gonda to Balrampur will be 22 kilometres. This will significantly ease travel not only for residents of Balrampur and Shravasti, but also for people from Nepal border areas, making Ayodhya far more accessible.

Land Acquisition and Design Features

For construction of the highway, around 600 hectares of land will be acquired. The total land width will be approximately 90 metres. While the main carriageway will be four lanes, the highway has been designed in a six-lane format with service roads on both sides, allowing smooth separation of local and high-speed traffic.

Need for the Project

It is noteworthy that the 43-kilometre-long two-lane Balrampur road, built in 2018, has not been repaired despite daily movement of nearly 10,000 vehicles and over one lakh people. The road is currently in poor condition. Although it was granted NH-330 status and there was demand to upgrade it to four lanes, the proposal could not be approved in 2023 due to lower recorded traffic density.

However, following the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha in January 2024, Ayodhya witnessed a surge of major industrialists and investors, with economic activity spilling over into Gonda and Balrampur. This renewed momentum led to the planning of a 35-kilometre Ayodhya–Gonda six-lane highway, which was subsequently extended to Balrampur during the survey stage itself.

Approval Awaited

Executive Engineer of Ayodhya National Highway Division S. K. Mishra confirmed that the design proposal for the six-lane highway has been submitted to the Ministry. He said construction work will begin as soon as the project receives approval.

The Ayodhya–Gonda–Balrampur six-lane highway is being seen as a historic step that will give Devipatan Mandal a new identity on the national development map, unlocking vast economic and infrastructure potential for the region.DeshBharat