Uttar Pradesh has cleared two significant investment decisions — a new access-controlled corridor in Bundelkhand and a large-scale biodegradable plastics facility in Lakhimpur Kheri — signalling a twin push towards regional connectivity and green manufacturing. The approvals, taken at a recent cabinet meeting, combine transport infrastructure expansion with industrial diversification in agrarian districts.
The proposed Chitrakoot Link Expressway will be developed as a four-lane, access-controlled greenfield corridor with provision for future six-lane expansion. Spanning just over 15 kilometres within Chitrakoot district, the project will connect a key Bundelkhand node to National Highway 135BG. The state’s expressway development authority has been designated as the implementing agency and will invite global bids under the engineering, procurement and construction model.With an estimated outlay exceeding ₹500 crore, the corridor is modest in length but strategically positioned. Urban planners note that last-mile expressway links often determine whether larger highway networks translate into tangible economic gains. By improving direct road access to Chitrakoot Dham, a major pilgrimage and tourism centre, the Chitrakoot Link Expressway is expected to ease travel time and strengthen the region’s hospitality, logistics and small enterprise ecosystem.
Bundelkhand has historically lagged behind western Uttar Pradesh in infrastructure investment. Transport economists argue that targeted links such as the Chitrakoot Link Expressway can reduce regional imbalances by improving market access and attracting real estate activity around transport nodes. However, they also caution that land acquisition transparency and environmental safeguards will shape the project’s long-term sustainability.Alongside the road project, the cabinet endorsed a ₹2,850 crore investment proposal for a Polylactic Acid manufacturing unit at an existing sugar mill complex in Lakhimpur Kheri. The plant is designed to produce 250 tonnes per day of PLA, a biodegradable polymer derived from sugarcane. Officials indicated that the project has been granted formal state support under the bioplastics industry policy framework.
Industry analysts describe the facility as a milestone for India’s bio-based materials sector. PLA is increasingly used in packaging, textiles and consumer goods as global supply chains seek alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics. By leveraging locally grown sugarcane feedstock, the project could create value addition within the rural economy while contributing to lower-carbon manufacturing pathways.Urban sustainability experts note that biodegradable material production, if scaled responsibly, can reduce municipal solid waste burdens in fast-growing cities. Yet they emphasise the need for parallel investments in composting and waste segregation systems to fully realise environmental benefits.
The combined approvals reflect a broader development template: transport connectivity to unlock regional tourism and industry, alongside green manufacturing to diversify rural economies. As bidding begins for the Chitrakoot Link Expressway and groundwork advances for the PLA facility, attention will shift to execution timelines, environmental compliance and inclusive employment generation across both districts.
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Uttar Pradesh clears Chitrakoot Link Expressway
