The Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to set up solar power plants along both sides of the 296-kilometer Bundelkhand Expressway. According to the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), a study revealed that 450 MW of solar power can be generated from these installations.
GEAPP, which focuses on promoting green energy transitions globally, has already prepared a detailed project report, which the state government has approved. “Our study identified that 450 MW solar power plants can be installed along the expressway. The state government has greenlit our findings,” said Saurabh Kumar, GEAPP vice-chairman, in a statement on Sunday.
On August 9, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh discussed the project with various stakeholders and solar energy experts in Lucknow, briefing them on the initiative’s details.
“We are currently assisting the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) in the bidding process. We anticipate that the project will be ready for commissioning within the next 15 months,” said Kumar, who is also a retired IAS officer.
UPEIDA has also requested GEAPP to conduct similar studies for four other expressways in the state, aiming to establish a model for future infrastructure projects. The estimated cost of the Bundelkhand Expressway solar project is around Rs 1,800 crore, with an expected electricity production cost of Rs 4 to 4.50 per unit.
The solar power plants will be installed in a 15-meter wide strip along both sides of the expressway, potentially powering the entire highway. Additionally, the project may pave the way for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations along the route, addressing a significant barrier to electric vehicle adoption—lack of adequate charging facilities.
This initiative marks the first large-scale project of its kind in India, with the potential to benefit nearby villages by providing access to clean energy, enhancing the expressway’s aesthetics, and creating employment opportunities.
Kumar also highlighted the renewable energy potential in arid regions like Bundelkhand but acknowledged that land availability remains a challenge, as much of the state’s land is used for agriculture. Identifying opportunities for maximizing renewable energy output on smaller plots of land will be crucial. GEAPP, an alliance supported by the Rockefeller and IKEA Foundations and the Bezos Earth Fund, aims to assist developing nations in their transition to green energy.
