Declaring that lucknow would soon emerge as a Smart City, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that what lucknow was today it was because of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who envisioned a city full of public amenities.
Singh, who represents lucknow in the lok Sabha, said it was an open secret that it was Vajpayee who initiated development in the state capital as the local MP and later his work was carried forward by lalji Tandon.
“It was Atalji who, as Prime Minister, laid the foundation stone of Shaheed Path and I as Union Surface Transport Minister ensured that the work was carried out systematically,” Singh said, adding that there was no doubt that Vikas ki Ganga was started in the true sense by Atalji.
Singh was speaking after the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony of 438 projects worth Rs 938 crore for lucknow.
He also laid the foundation stones of four elevated roads.
For the first time, four elevated highways of 6.24 km length will be constructed at a cost of Rs 414 crore in the state capital.
“The population of lucknow is more than 35 lakh and over 20 lakh vehicles are registered in this city. The projects we have launched today have been conceived keeping in mind the population of lucknow after 30 years. The construction of outer ring road is linked with this project,” he said.
Singh said air traffic had also increased in lucknow. “Earlier, it was around 23 lakh (passengers) in 2012-13 and has now increased to 47 lakh now. Keeping this in mind, permission of terminal 3 has been given and it will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,383 crore in three years,” he added.
“Similarly, work has begun to modernise Gomti Nagar (railway) terminus. The project worth Rs 1,900 crore has been sanctioned and once complete, it will ease pressure on Charbagh railway station. Besides, work worth Rs 1,800 crore is in progress to modernise the Charbagh railway station,” the Union Home Minister said.
He also said that Rs 96 crore would be spent on sprucing up the Alamnagar railway station.
Among the other works, sewage treatment plant (STP) will be constructed for Haider canal for which Rs 336 crore has been sanctioned.
“In the 2014 lok Sabha polls, I had said that I do not make promises, but I seek the blessings of the people of lucknow, so that God may give me the strength to fulfil the developmental aspirations of the people of lucknow,” he said.
lauding UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Singh said, “Today is a historic moment for lucknow. The UP Chief Minister is committed to developing the state. His commitment for development and hard work makes me feel confident that no one can stop Uttar Pradesh from becoming the number one state in the country.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “In the last 15 months of the BJP government in UP, there has been an improvement in law and order. The power supply scenario has also improved. Due to the Smart City Mission and AMRUT, development of lucknow is going on at a fast pace.”
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the BJP government had connected more villages with roads than the previous state governments.