Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lay the foundation stone of ambitious Purvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh on May 27 with the statet government asking local administration to make arrangements for the function and also a public rally.
A highly-placed source in Chief Minister’s office told 'The Pioneer' that the PM has agreed to lay the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway and tentative dates were May 26 and 27 – but in all probability, the function would be held on May 27.
“A meeting was held on Wednesday between UPEIDA officials and district administration to select the site in Azamgarh. Once we get the report, we will send the same to PMO for clearance,” the official said.
The source said that earlier this week, Yogi had visited New Delhi to seek the PM's consent on laying the foundation.
Following the PM's approval preparations have started on a war footing to ensure the success of the function.
The high point is that the foundation of this 354 km long Expressway will be laid in Azamgarh – the Parliamentary constituency of SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Officers do not see politics in it, but said that as Azamgarh was the focal point of eastern UP, so it was een decided to carry out the foundation laying there.
The Greenfield Expressway will connect lucknow with Ghazipur will be constructed in eight packages and would be completed within 30 months.
The Expressway will connect four religious cities. Varanasi will be connected through National Highway 33 while Allahabad, Ayodhya and Gorakhpur will be connected through link roads. Officials vouch that the Expressway will be constructed from loan taken from banks.
Over 95 per cent land for the project has been acquired. It would also have a 3000 meter long airstrip at Kudebhar in Sultanpur which can be used by IAF fighter planes in times of emergency.
Initially, the project cost was Rs 19437.73 crore of which Rs 12070 crore is for civil work. But the cost has been revised following directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to slash unnecessary expenditure following which the cost has come down to Rs 13349.51 crore.