The country’s first solar-powered expressway is all set to become a reality by 2026. Officials with the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the body which is overseeing the execution of the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway project, said it is on the verge of finalising the firms that would set up the serpentine solar parks along the route, which would power the e-way along with other establishments coming up in its vicinity.
Hari Pratap Shahi, additional chief executive officer (ACEO) of UPEIDA, announced, “UP government’s project to set up mega solar parks along the Bundelkhand Expressway would hit the ground soon. In response to an Expression of Interest initiated last year, around 20 leading firms from India and abroad have shown interest so far. The formalities for commissioning the work are already in process. The project, which will take around 16 months to complete, is expected to take off by 2024 end.”
Among the many solar power developers that have shown interest in the project are Tusco Ltd, Torrent Power Ltd, Somaya Solar Solutions Pvt Ltd, 3R Management Ltd, Avaada Energy Ltd, Atria Brindavan Power Ltd, Erisha E Mobility, and MahaPreit, said sources with UPEIDA.
Shahi said that the entire project would be based on the recommendations of the specialised firm that the UP government hired to conduct a feasibility study of the project. Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), in its study, found that apart from the land utilised in the establishment of the expressway and the area of its utility, there was around 1,500 hectares of surplus land, which is adequate to set up solar parks, having the capacity to generate around 450 Megawatts to 550 Megawatts of energy. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 2,500 crore, said Shahi.
Once installed, the solar park would power the entire 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway, making it the country’s first solar-powered expressway. As of now, Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is the world’s largest solar power plant, covering 14,000 acres of land, and having the capacity to generate 2,245 MW of power. The project along the Bundelkhand Expressway is expressed to surpass it. Other than powering the expressway, the energy would be utilised in providing electricity to other establishments including one lakh houses and industries that would come up in its vicinity.
Shahi said the Bundelkhand solar park project would be a major push for UP to achieve its goal, as per its Solar Energy Policy 2022. The state has set a goal to generate around 22,000 Megawatts of solar energy by 2026-27. “Bundelkhand Expressway Solar Park was our pilot project. Once successful, a similar project would be carried out along with other existing expressways including the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Noida Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, and others,” said Shahi.
He said the generation of green energy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to a decrease in the rate of climate change.
The Bundelkhand Expressway, constructed at a cost of around Rs 14,850 crore, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16, 2022. Developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the expressway is a significant step towards improving road infrastructure. The PM laid the foundation stone on February 29, 2020, and the project was completed within 28 months. Spanning seven districts—Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya, and Etawah—the expressway enhances connectivity in the region.
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