UP Govt lays foundation stone for 2029 development projects worth Rs 8731 Cr
LUCKNOW : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath on Thursday laid the foundation stone for 2,029 development projects worth Rs 8,731 crore in Lucknow. The CM said, “There are 762 municipal bodies in the state with a population of about seven crores. Historic work has been done in the last six years to improve the lives of people under ‘Ease of Living’ and it will continue on a war footing in future also.”
Stressing the importance of the development projects, the CM stated that the worth of the projects being introduced today in UP was over Rs 8,731 crore, which was equivalent to the annual budgets of some of the states.
He added that all the efforts were being made to transform urban life in the state, pointing out that seven municipal corporations within the state have been included in the Smart City Mission, while the process of connecting all 17 municipal corporations with the mission is underway. Uttar Pradesh is currently leading the nation in the Smart City Mission’s implementation, he asserted.
The CM informed that 60 cities have been approved under the AMRUT Scheme. Apart from this, the Urban Development Department has also started other projects. In near future, 100 such Nagar Panchayats will be selected, which will be developed as aspirational cities, he added.
Yogi said that a state’s economy cannot gain momentum without urban development and no one should be deprived of development.
On the occasion, the CM also launched books related to state’s urban digital mission, Progress of Swachh Bharat Mission, Govansh Protection, and a manual to protect dogs among others. He also flagged off tempo tripper vehicles and handed over keys of houses to beneficiaries of the PMAY (Urban) scheme.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Energy and Urban Development Minister AK Sharma, and Minister of State Urban Development Rakesh Rathore ‘Guru’ were present on the occasion.
‘Aspirational Cities’ plan to begin with Rs 100 crore in Uttar Pradesh
In a bid to further strengthen the urban bodies and expand their capacity, the UP government is going to start the Aspirational Cities Programme. A budget of Rs 100 crore has been set aside by the Urban Development Department for the implementation of this scheme.
In the next three months, using this budget, the Urban Development Department will select 100 aspirational bodies on the basis of prescribed parameters. Along with this, CM Fellows will also be posted in the respective districts.
The Urban Development Department has confirmed this through an action plan to spend the allocated budget in the next three months in the schemes operated under new demand in 2023-24. It is expected that apart from ensuring the quality of work in the urban bodies through this scheme, the implementation of the schemes will also accelerate.
Data collection from districts on 16 parameters
The Urban Development Department has stated that 16 parameters will be developed with assistance from NITI Aayog for the implementation of the thematic project in the action plan for the upcoming three months. By using these parameters, data will be gathered at the district level.
On the basis of data collection, 100 aspirational bodies will be selected from the state. The thematic plan will be launched with all these selected 100 aspirational bodies.
Along with this, CM Fellows will also be deployed for thematic planning in the respective districts.
These CM fellows will work under CDOs and DMs and expedite implementation of schemes besides ensuring the quality of work.
Basic facilities in religious urban bodies to be developed with Rs 50 crore
Apart from this, the Urban Development Department will also develop basic infrastructure facilities in the urban bodies of religious and historical importance with Rs 50 crore.
The DM concerned will obtain the proposal in order to create SOP (guidelines) for the thematic project, upon which the action plan will be prepared. After getting the approval for the proposed action plan from the competent authority, administrative and financial approval will be given.
Over 200 municipalities, nagar panchayats being linked with basic facilities
CM Adityanath said that over 200 municipalities and Nagar panchayats were formed in the last six years. Now, for ‘ease of living’ in Nagar panchayats, work is being done to ensure the presence of basic facilities in them.
He said that the 240 municipal bodies were expanded under the Mukhyamantri Nagar Srijan Yojana.
CM further said that the work of taking forward the Mukhyamantri Nagariya Alpviksit Basti Yojana program was done. The street vendors that were always looked down upon were empowered under the vision of PM Modi. Along with linking them with digital payment, action was taken to provide them loans on interest. “The work of connecting the maximum number of street vendors within the country and disbursing an amount of Rs 204565 crore to more than 9 lakh 31 thousand street vendors was done in UP,” he pointed out.
Electric vehicles will soon be seen in major cities
The CM said that soon, electric vehicles will be seen in districts such as Sitapur, Unnao, Barabanki, and Rae Bareilly as well. He said that the metro is operational in five cities of the state. Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of metros operating in the entire country. A target has been set to make the metro operational in Agra by the end of this year. On the other hand, the work of the ropeway in the world’s oldest city Kashi is being carried forward rapidly.