In a major boost to infrastructure and regional connectivity, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a concession agreement with G.R. Infraprojects Ltd. for the development of the 88 km long, 6-lane access-controlled Agra-Gwalior Greenfield Expressway (NH-719D). The agreement was signed in the presence of NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, alongside senior officials of NHAI and the concessionaire.
The expressway will originate from Deori village in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and terminate at Susera village in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), traversing through parts of Rajasthan as well. This ambitious project will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) mode at a total capital cost of ₹4,613 crore, including land acquisition expenses.
The concession period spans 20 years, which includes a 30-month construction phase. During this phase, the authority will extend construction support of ₹820 crore to the concessionaire, disbursed in alignment with project progress milestones. In a notable financial highlight, the project has been awarded on a quoted 17.170% premium of the realisable fee against the expected 2.42%, marking a strong investor response. The premium is payable from the second year after project completion and will increase by 1% annually for the remainder of the concession period.
Key Features and Impact:
The expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time and ease congestion on the existing NH-44 Agra-Gwalior stretch. It will also enhance logistics efficiency for freight movement across major commercial hubs including Agra, Dholpur, Morena, and Gwalior, thereby cutting transportation costs and carbon emissions.
Infrastructure highlights of the expressway include:
8 major bridges
23 minor bridges
6 flyovers
1 Rail Over Bridge (ROB)
192 culverts
Importantly, the alignment will pass through the National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, prompting integrated wildlife conservation measures. A cable-stayed bridge over the Chambal River is planned to protect the endangered Gharial species. Additionally, sound barriers and light cutters will be installed to minimize environmental disruption.
Strategic Importance:
The Agra-Gwalior Greenfield Expressway aligns with the Government of India’s push for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in highway development. It follows the recent concession agreement signed for the 121 km Guwahati Ring Road, also under the BOT (Toll) model.
NHAI, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is responsible for the development and maintenance of over 50,000 km of National Highways, out of India’s total national highway network of 1,32,499 km. This project reflects NHAI’s commitment to building a world-class highway infrastructure that supports economic growth and sustainable mobility.
