Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that Meerut was advancing in the race for development at a new rate, and that the city would soon be known for its first sports university, state-of-the-art development, and skill development.
While inaugurating/laying the foundation stones of 376 development projects worth Rs 517 crore and addressing a Prabuddhjan Sammelan, Yogi said, “Meerut and its surrounding areas are getting the world's latest facilities.”
He said Meerut’s sports items marked under the One District One Product scheme were becoming the identity of Meerut.”
The chief minister also gave keys of houses and cheques to the beneficiaries of various government schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that Meerut had a mythological identity of its own. “India's history was created in Hastinapur of Meerut 5,000 years ago. Here, the handicraftsmen and artists have transformed Meerut into a sports city. All sporting goods are produced in Meerut,” he said.
The chief minister said that keeping these qualities of Meerut in mind, the double-engine government was working tirelessly for the development of Meerut and western Uttar Pradesh.
Highlighting the development of Meerut, the chief minister said that the 12-lane expressway had reduced the time to travel between Delhi and Meerut. He pointed out that the trip from Meerut to Delhi used to take three to four hours, but it could now be made in 45 minutes.
"Similar efforts are being made to shorten the distances between Meerut and Baghpat and Meerut and Bulandshahr. Given that the Ganga Expressway, which will cover the distance from Meerut to Lucknow in just 4.5 hours, is being developed, the distance to the state capital would also decrease the distance to Delhi,” he said.
The country's first rapid rail was also being built between Delhi-Meerut, the chief minister said, and added, “I am congratulating Meerut in advance for this. If you choose good people, good results will come. When good governments come, development also comes along with them.”
Chief Minister Yogi further said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country in 2014, terrorism and Naxalism had completely ended in the country. “It is because of the double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh that the law and order situation in the state is providing a better security environment. The state has become riot free, curfew free, while respecting faith and guaranteeing security to every citizen,” he added.
“Earlier mafias, goons and criminals used to stop girls from going to school. The traders and entrepreneurs had to pay goonda tax. Nobody wanted to invest. The situation has changed as our government is providing security to women and businessmen in the state,” Yogi pointed out.
He remarked: “The mafia is wandering the streets with placards hanging around their necks pleading for their lives.”
Yogi said that Meerut was developing as a smart city and the government was connecting ITMS with Safe City in Smart City. “Whether it is the sisters and daughters, a businessman, or a regular person, if someone dares to compromise their security, the police will punish them. We are developing ITMS as Integrated Command and Control in Smart City,” the chief minister said.
Yogi said that a favourable investment environment had been created in the state. He said Uttar Pradesh had the potential to become the growth engine of the country's economy and keeping this potential in mind, as per the vision of Prime Minister Modi, to make Uttar Pradesh's economy a 1-trillion dollar economy, massive investment needed to be attracted. He appealed to the intellectuals to contribute in achieving the goal of the government.
Union Minister Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, UP’s Minister of State for Jal Shakti Dinesh Khatik, Minister of State for Energy and Alternative Energy Dr Somendra Tomar, MP Rajendra Agarwal, Dr Satyapal Singh, Dr Laxmikant Bajpai and Vijaypal Singh participated in the programme.
