Lucknow News | All you need to know about the newly inaugurated Outer Ring Road Corridor

The inauguration of the 104 km long, 6-lane Outer Ring Road project (Kisan Path) this Monday marks a significant improvement in commute for vehicles traversing the highways surrounding Lucknow.

This project holds strategic importance as it intersects five national and six state highways. With vehicles, especially heavy ones, now able to bypass the city, traffic flow is expected to improve, reducing congestion within Lucknow's inner areas.

The construction of the Outer Ring Road project began in 2016 with a targeted completion date of 2021. However, the project faced delays due to the pandemic. It was executed in 5 phases to achieve completion.

Although the Outer Ring Road project has been inaugurated, work is ongoing on the Sitapur Road section. NHAI has temporarily halted heavy vehicle movement on this route for the next 15 days to expedite development.

According to NHAI authorities, the Sitapur stretch is expected to be finalized in the coming days, with load testing scheduled before heavy traffic resumes.

Here are some notable features of the Outer Ring Road Project:

• The road intersects five national and six state highways, including Sultanpur Road, Rae Bareli Road, Hardoi Road, Kanpur Road, Ayodhya Road, and Sitapur Road, among others.

• It will facilitate travel for commuters heading to Barabanki, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Sitapur, Gonda, Hardoi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, and connect a total of 43 villages.

• The corridor comprises 157 entry and exit points.

• The project includes 26 bridges, 6 railway overbridges, 12 flyovers, and 34 underpasses.

• Once fully operational, the Outer Ring Road is anticipated to divert an estimated one lakh vehicles daily, alleviating traffic congestion within the city.

In tandem with the inauguration of the Outer Ring Road (ORR), NHAI will designate Lucknow as a no-entry zone for heavy vehicles. This measure will prohibit vehicles, particularly heavy ones, from utilizing city thoroughfares, redirecting them instead through the ORR corridor.

This will further significantly improve traffic flow within city limits, particularly during late-night hours when trucks and buses commonly congest main routes.