Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday termed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's dream of coming to power in Uttar Pradesh as “Mungerilal key hasin sapne” (wishful thinking).
Taking a jibe at UP’s former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s comments that Lord Krishna figured in his dream saying that he would come to power, Maurya said that it was nothing but wishful thinking (Mungerilal key hasin sapney), which will never come true.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Akhilesh had claimed that Lord Krishna came in his dream every night to tell him that he would form the next government in Uttar Pradesh.
On Tuesday, soon after virtually inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 8,413 projects worth Rs 10,725 crore, Maurya, while replying to a question by a media person on a temple in Mathura, said that Bharatiya Janata Party had always done what it promised.
The projects inaugurated included 4,703 roads in 353 assembly constituencies stretching 8,737 km and 132 bridges in 79 assembly constituencies built at a cost of Rs 1698 crore.
“We always spoke of building a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and we are doing it. We talked of reviving Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and we completed it. Now we will build a grand temple in Mathura and if they (opposition parties) want the same, they must do it in the open,” Maurya asserted.
Screening a documentary on the works done by Public Works Department, Bridge Corporation and Rajkiya Nirman Nigam in the state during the present regime, Maurya instructed officials to upload the documentary on the departmental website so that people could know of the BJP’s commitment to development.
The deputy chief minister also directed officials that the foundation stone (shilpatts) of all the projects should be installed at the respective sites within three days.
Appreciating the officers of Public Works Department, Bridge Corporation and Rajkiya Nirman Nigam for the excellent and remarkable works done by them, Maurya said that without roads, development were incomplete as roads opened new doors of development in the state.
“Works have been undertaken to connect villages up to a distance of five kilometres from national highways, state highways, main district roads etc. Before 2017, the length of national highways in the state was 6,000 km, which has now increased to 12,000 km. Only good and quality roads have been made using new and modern technology, but a whopping Rs 5,000 crore has also been saved. Changes in the design of roads have resulted in reduction of 20- 25 per cent in cost of construction and material consumption thereby promoting environmental protection and promotion. Also, nearly 45.9 MT of carbon emissions have been reduced,” he said.
Highlighting the works done by the PWD during the present government, Maurya said that on the basis of 2001 Census, 1,550 revenue villages were connected with routes against the total targeted 1,557 revenue villages with a population of more than 250.
“On the basis of Census 2011, out of the targeted 297 revenue villages with a population of more than 250, 173 revenue villages have been connected by road. Road connectivity has been ensured at 1,729 villages/habitations of more than 250 population falling within 5-km radius of more than 7-metre-wide roads. Also, 25 tehsil headquarters and 108 development block headquarters have been connected by two-lane road. Under ‘Jai Hind Veer Path’ scheme, road works have been done up to the villages of 17 martyrs.