Centre puts UP road projects in fast lane

With the politics-versus-development debate on in Uttar Pradesh,especially in the aftermath of AICC general secretary...

With the politics-versus-development debate on in Uttar Pradesh,especially in the aftermath of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhis recent demand for the creation of Bundelkhand Development Authority,the state is in for a special treatment by the Ministry of Road Transport amp; Highways. Minister Kamal Nath has given special charge of Uttar Pradesh to one of his deputies,Minister of State R P N Singh,and also embarked on a slew of state-specific projects.

In its first 100 days,the Ministry has come out with a host of projects including six-laning of Delhi-Agra national highway and expressway from Delhi to Meerut.

The Centre has also sent a proposal to Mayawati government to hand over five state highways,which have been declared national highways. They include the highways from Rae Bareli to Jaunpur; from Ambedkarnagar connecting Sultanpur,Amethi,and Rae Bareli to Banda in Bundelkhand region; from Unnao to Lalganj; from India- Nepal border connecting to Lumbani via Naugarh,Siddharthnagar,Basti,Tanda and terminating at Varanasi; and,from Meerut to Bulandshahr. We have asked the state government to hand over the highways to us, said Singh adding that there were 29 existing national highway projects in UP out of which 20 covering around 600 km,will be completed by the end of 2010. The Ministry has also invited bids for four-laning of Ghaziabad-Aligarh road.

The Cabinet Minister Kamal Nath has put me in charge of UP. The state has lagged behind in terms of development. Rahul Gandhi,the Prime Minister and the Congress president repeatedly pointed out at the time of the last elections that the only way to bring UP out of the quagmire of religion and caste is development. People voted for us in large numbers in the state expecting us to carry out development works and we meet their expectations, Singh said.

Rajasthan PCC plans Cong academy

JAIPUR: In a bid to inculcate party ideology and values among youths enrolling as new members,the Rajasthan PCC has proposed setting up a Congress academy in the state. Senior leaders will be involved in imparting such training,party sources said. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot,who held discussions and mooted the idea with the state party functionaries a day ago,has asked partymen to locate land for setting up the academy. PTI