At Maha Kumbh Cabinet, thrust on developing Prayagraj and adjoining regions: Nod to two development regions, infra projects

Claiming that these regions would be significant from the point of view of religious, cultural and tourism perspectives and would generate new employment, Adityanath said that special schemes would be formulated to transform these regions into a hub for religious tourism, cultural heritage and economic activities. He said that the infrastructure in these regions would help elevate economic, social and cultural development.

The Cabinet meeting comes on a day that also marked the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and ahead of the February 5 Milkipur bypoll.

The chief minister said the ongoing Ganga Expressway project, which would connect Prayagraj to Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Kashi, Chandauli and Ghazipur to Purvanchal Expressway, would be named as Prayagraj-Vindya-Kashi Expressway, and would connect Varanasi and Chandauli to Sonbhadra district.

Officials said that the extension would be about 320-km long Prayagraj-Vindya-Kashi expressway, whereas another 100 km long Vindhya-Purvanchal link expressway, which would be built from Chandauli to Ghazipur.

Announcing the new link expressway projects, the chief minister said apart from extension of Ganga Expressway, which is being developed from Meerut to Prayagraj and would now be extended to cover Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Chandauli and Ghazipur districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Another link expressway, which would be developed to connect Varanasi, Chandauli and Sonbhadra; a proposal of link expressway to connect Bundelkhand Expressway with Ganga Expressway was also approved.

“This plan for the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot growth corridor will be taken forward in collaboration with the NITI Aayog, just as we are advancing the Varanasi-Vindhya growth corridor. These growth corridors will play a significant role not only from a tourism perspective but also in terms of economic development and job creation,” Adityanath said.

Another significant infrastructure project cleared by the Cabinet on Wednesday included construction of a new six-lane bridge, which would run parallel to signature bridge over the Yamuna River. Whereas, a four lane bridge has been approved to enchance connectivity of Prayagraj with Mirzapur, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur.

In another significant decision, the Cabinet also approved the proposal to allow issuance of municipal bonds for Prayagraj, Varanasi and Agra municipal corporations and also providing funds for credit rating enhancement from infrastructure development funds

The Cabinet also approved the proposal for the upgradation of 62 government Industrial Training Institutes of the state. The proposal to establish five Centers for Innovation, Invention, Incubation and Training with the cooperation of Tata Technology Limited was also approved in the cabinet meeting.

This initiative aims to provide modern education and skill development to the youth of UP through a hub-and-spoke model, the CM said.

Another important decision was the establishment of a medical college in Balrampur, which will be named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The KGMU Lucknow’s Satellite Centre in Balrampur will be converted into a medical college, and it is set to begin operations in the next academic session, he said.

The Cabinet also approved the construction of three new medical colleges in Baghpat, Hathras and Kasganj districts under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Adityanath also announced Cabinet’s approvals for infrastructure projects related to Prayagraj and eastern UP.

“The proposal to build a new bridge over the Ganga between Salori and Hetapatti, and a new bridge parallel to the Signature Bridge over the Yamuna, has been approved,” he said.

“Prayagraj faces its own internal traffic challenges. A new six-lane bridge is being built over the Ganga, which will be completed on time. I am confident that by the next Kumbh, the benefits of infrastructure development will be enjoyed by devotees who come,” he added.

Later in the day, the entire Cabinet of over 50 ministers, led by the chief minister and deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak took dip in the Sangam. The ministers also engaged in some light-hearted, celebratory moments. The chief minister and his Cabinet first performed a traditional puja at the Triveni complex in Arail. They then proceeded to the Sangam by motorboat, completing the ritual with mantra recitations and a ‘havan’.

Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari, Minister Ashish Patel of Apna Dal (S) and Baldev Singh Aulakh, Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad of the Nishad Party also joined them.