CM Yogi: Cancel land allotments in Defence Corridor after 3 years if unused; speed up Ganga Expressway
Says investors must utilise land within 3 years, asks for skill centres at corridor nodes and pushes an integrated expressway plan to boost jobs and industry.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed planners to align new expressways with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) network to avoid duplication and ensure an integrated state and national road grid. (Express Photo)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed officials to cancel land allotments in the Defence Industrial Corridor if investors fail to begin work within three years, and ordered a transparent monitoring system to track land use and investor progress.
Chairing a high-level review of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Expressway Development Authority (UPEIDA), he said allocations should not remain idle and fresh facilities should be provided only where there is genuine development.
“If an investor fails to utilise the allotted land within three years, the allocation should automatically be cancelled,” he said, stressing that the state must guard against land hoarding and ensure timely execution of projects. Officials were asked to set up a clear, accountable system to monitor progress and to grant further concessions only on demonstrable milestones.
Authorities said that investment proposals worth about Rs 30,819 crore have been received for the defence corridor, and that 5,039 acres of land have already been acquired. Several companies have begun operations at corridor sites, officials said, even as the administration pressed to convert commitments into manufacturing and jobs on the ground.
Adityanath also called for skill development centres at every node of the defence industrial corridor — including Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Aligarh and Chitrakoot, so local youth can be trained for technical roles in defence production. “These centres should link local talent to industry opportunities, creating employment and promoting regional self-reliance,” he said.
Turning to road infrastructure, the chief minister described expressways as “the backbone of Uttar Pradesh’s economy” and urged officials to expedite work on the Ganga Expressway, directing that construction be completed by December.
The review also covered proposed extensions, including the Meerut–Haridwar, Noida–Jewar and Chitrakoot–Rewa link expressways, and new projects such as the Vindhya Expressway and the Vindhya–Purvanchal link to better connect Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Chandauli and Sonbhadra.
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Adityanath instructed planners to align new expressways with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) network to avoid duplication and ensure an integrated state and national road grid.
The meeting reviewed UPEIDA’s time-bound plan to attract investment into industrial clusters and logistics parks along the expressways, including provision of reliable power and water, truck terminals, waystations and health and emergency facilities.
Officials said implementation would be closely monitored and linked to land-use milestones so that infrastructure and investment translate into jobs and regional development.
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.
Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.
Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More
