Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday flagged off a fleet of 27 air-conditioned buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) here.
The Chief Minister also travelled on a low fare Janrath AC bus along with other ministers to get a first hand experience of the ride and later, went to the airport to go to Agra on an official visit.
The function for flagging off the new AC buses was held outside the official residence of Adityanath where State Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, Transport Minister Swantra Deo Singh along with other ministers -- Rita Bahuguna-Joshi, Mohsin Raza and Chetan Chauhan -- were also present.
The first bus, which was flagged off, will ply between Gorakhpur and Agra. The Chief Minister inquired the officials and conductors about the facilities to be given to the riders.
He cross checked the facilities in the buses as ambulances flagged off by the State Government last month were said to be below standard for which it drew severe criticism.
The high-end Volvo and Scania buses would run on Gorakhpur-lucknow-Agra via Kanpur, lucknow-Delhi via Kanpur, and Gorakhpur-Delhi via Kanpur routes.
Janrath buses, which have affordable fare for mid-segment passengers, will ply from lucknow to Delhi, Banda, Sitapur-Bareilly, Dumariaganj-Barhni, Bahraich, Jhansi, Sultanpur-Varanasi, Faizabad-Azamgarh and Faizabad-Deoria.
Meanwhile during his visit in Agra, Adityanath made on the spot inspection of Taj-Yamuna Corridor Projects and directed to immediately complete all the work soon. Directing to carry out cleaning of Yamuna, he asked to complete Rubber Ram Project to increase the water level. He also asked to finish work under Yamuna Action Plan.
Adityanath also visited SN Medical College and hold a meeting of senior officers and showed his concern over poor phase of work. He warned the officers to pull up their socks or be ready to face music. Earlier Adityanath visited Nagariya and met the family who lost their 14 members in a accident in Nagriya. He handed over compensation cheque to the victims.
Adityanath would be visiting Meerut later in the day and will attend meeting at New Delhi on Monday . He is expected to return lucknow on Monday evening.