Dilip Buildcon, an Indian infrastructure development company, has secured a contract from The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expand the Lucknow-Sultanpur section of National Highway (NH) 56 in Uttar Pradesh, India.

NHAI awarded the INR28.45bn ($427m) contract under NHDP Phase-IV.

As per the terms of the contract, Dilip Buildcon will be responsible for constructing a 127Km-long, four-lane road along the NH 56 route.

"The 127km-long highway will pass through other districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Barabanki, Raebareli and Sultanpur."

The project must also be completed within 30 months from its starting date.

Indian highway authorities expect the road to reduce travel time from Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, to the holy city of Varanasi, thereby promoting tourism in the region.

The 127km-long highway will pass through other districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Barabanki, Raebareli and Sultanpur.

The project will also involve the construction of 13 major bridges, 259 culverts, four vehicular underpasses, six cattle / pedestrian underpasses, 43 bus bays, two truck lay-byes, and 32km-long bypasses at Jagdishpur, Mushafirkhana, Aliganj and Shabaganj / Badaunkalan.

The Indian government is currently awarding projects to infrastructure developers to accelerate highway works. 

Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari plans to complete road projects worth INR2000bn ($30bn) in the state by 2019.