Calling the Agra-lucknow Expressway a `growth highway’, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that this would be the pride of UP and an envy for other states. The latter still cannot come to terms that a road of such a magnitude can come up in such a short time.
“We built this road in a record time and the credit goes to the team which worked round the clock to ensure its completion in just 22 months and will be operational in October,” Yadav said at a function held in lucknow on Friday.
Yadav said that UP’s image has got a boost due to this expressway as it is the longest access control highway. Many industrialists wondered as to how we could complete the project in such a short time. “I had a discussion with one of the top industrialists of the country about the expressway and he could not believe his eyes when I pointed towards the expressway from a plane,” Yadav said.
“The expressway is an example for other states. They are envious of our achievements as they know we have achieved almost an impossible task. Earlier, we wanted to build it on PPP model but later decided to construct it from the state exchequer. Many a times, the Finance department was not willing to release funds and raised objections. Ultimately, better sense prevailed and funds were released so that we could finish the expressway,” Chief Minister said.
The CM said that the expressway will change the face of Uttar Pradesh. Mandis will come up along the highway where farmers will not only sell their produce at competitive price but will also get farm equipment at their door steps.
Yadav congratulated the entire team including DMs of nine districts who ensured peaceful acquisition of land. “Probably this is the only expressway which has been completed without a murmur of protest. The land was acquired through mutual understanding and we paid what the farmers asked for. The government paid four times the cost of land to them. When other states are struggling to get their land Acquisition Policy in place, we showed the world how to acquire land and complete construction,” he said.
Declaring that the SP will return to power, the Chief Minister said, “Then, I will drive down to Agra from lucknow.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) UPEIDA Navneet Sahgal, who was also felicitated, said that the bureaucrats are always scolded but this is the first time that several of them are being honoured for their good work. Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal and advisor to Chief Minister Alok Ranjan also spoke on the occasion.