Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, praised the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, saying that under Yogi Adityanath's leadership, the state was seeing major transformation with better law and order and fast-improving connectivity.
“If two things -- law and order situation and connectivity -- were corrected, I knew this would become a state that could fight against all odds. Law and order situation is improving in UP, so is connectivity," the prime minister said.
“The newly unveiled Bundelkhand Expressway will not just provide convenience to the transportation issues in the region but will also bring prosperity to various sectors in and around the district,” he said.
Maintaining that the expressway would ensure improved connectivity and further economic progress of the region, the prime minister said, “With this expressway, there will be an industrial boom in the region. Earlier, big cities had the first right on modern means of transport, but that is not the case anymore. The Modi-Yogi government will take development not just to cities but to villages also.”
The prime minister further said that in the last eight years, his government had not focused just on the large metros but had worked towards connecting smaller towns and cities as well. He said the government was working on inclusive development.
Targeting the opposition, the prime minister said that efforts were being made by some people to bring in the culture of collecting votes by promising freebies.
Reiterating the commitment of ‘Jo kaha so kiya’, the prime minister said: “We follow our deadlines. Delhi-Meerut Expressway's foundation stone was laid by us and inaugurated by us. The same happened with the Bundelkhand Expressway as well. It was to be opened in February next year but we completed it much earlier.”
Modi said that the foundation stone of Gorakhpur All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was also laid by “our government and it was also inaugurated by us”. He said that everything which harms the country and affects the development of the country should be kept away.
The prime minister also said that the Bundelkhand Expressway would reduce Chitrakoot-Delhi distance by 3-4 hours, and accelerate industrial progress of the entire region.
“With the efforts of the double-engine government, every corner of Uttar Pradesh, now with 'sabka saath aur sabka vikas', is ready to race towards growth and prosperity for all its citizens,” he stated.
The prime minister said that from new airport terminals in smaller towns to the international airport in Jewar, air connectivity was increasing rapidly in Uttar Pradesh.
“Today, with the inauguration of the Bundelkhand Expressway, we need to now build a tourism circuit. Uttar Pradesh has a vast wealth of culture and heritage that will add to the growth of the state,” he said.
He went on to say that from new roads and rail routes to affordable housing to electrification of villages, fulfilling the dreams of India's youth was the goal and resolve of his government.
The prime minister said that the cottage industries had a great role in the development of Bundelkhand. “Our government is laying emphasis on these industries to fulfill the goal of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. Make in India is going to be empowered by this tradition,” he said.
“To deal with the water scarcity, another challenge of Bundelkhand, we are working to timely achieve targets under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Amrit Sarovars will be made in every district of Bundelkhand. This is a huge task for water security and for the generations to come,” he said.
Modi said that abundant funds had been sanctioned for the Ken-Betwa link project, and it was going to change the life of a large part of Bundelkhand. The prime minister said that toy making was a traditional business in India and he had urged the toy industries to work afresh. “Now, a large number of toys from India have started going abroad,” he pointed out.