To boost connectivity between two major tourism hubs—Agra and Gwalior—the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a concession agreement with G.R. Infraprojects Ltd. for the development of the 88-km, 6-lane access-controlled Agra-Gwalior Greenfield Expressway (NH-719D). The signing took place in the presence of NHAI Chairman Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav and senior officials from both parties.
The expressway will start at Deori village in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and end at Susera village in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), passing through parts of Rajasthan as well. Developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) model, the project will be built at a total capital cost of ₹4,613 crore, which includes land acquisition costs. NHAI will provide ₹820 crore in construction support, linked to project milestones.
Key Features of the Project:
- Concession Period: 20 years (including 30 months for construction)
- Project Awarded With: A premium of 17.17% revenue share, significantly higher than the expected 2.42%
- Route Highlights: Will ease congestion on NH-44 and reduce travel time, emissions, and logistics costs
- Infrastructure Includes:
- 8 major bridges
- 23 minor bridges
- 6 flyovers
- 1 rail-over-bridge
- 192 culverts
The expressway will also cross the National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary. As part of environmental safeguards, a cable-stayed bridge over the Chambal River is planned to protect the native gharial population. Additional mitigation features like sound barriers and light cutters will be incorporated to reduce wildlife disruption.
This project is part of the Government of India’s push for robust Public-Private Partnerships (PPPS) in the road sector. It follows NHAI’s recent agreement to develop the 121-km Guwahati Ring Road, also under the BOT (Toll) model. These initiatives are integral to building a world-class National Highway network across the country