Claiming to add momentum to development, impacted by lockdown, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who holds the PWD portfolio, said that a strong network of roads and bridges was being laid in the state which would facilitate safe transport and also boost the economy.
Maurya said that with work in full swing now, several lakh migrant returnees were being given employment while farmers and businessmen engaged in production of local products were getting better returns due to better modes of transportation.
The PWD minister also claimed that facilitating a good infrastructure would also boost investment in rural areas and more private players were turning towards small towns to set up their businesses.
Maurya said that development work was restarted in April complying with Covid prevention protocol, and at present, 14,923 PWD projects were underway involving a total budget of Rs 195.98 crore.
“For these, 1.17 lakh workers, including migrant workers were engaged. Besides, 200 projects were underway of UP Bridge Corporation with a budget of Rs 66.56 crore and 3,894 labourers were working in it. Similarly, under UPRNN, 548 projects were underway involving Rs 184.64 crore and 15,840 labourers were given jobs,” the deputy chief minister said.
Maurya further said that the BJP government had laid 11,359 kilometres of roads in rural areas besides broadening and beautification of 12,600 kilometres of roads. He claimed that with assistance of Rs 3,025 crore from Central Road Fund, 1,828 kilometres of 117 major roads were being broadened across the state.
The minister said that for environment protection, the PWD was developing 175 herbal roads on 175 sections while in 171 sections work was completed.
“Along these roads, saplings of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Shahjan (Drumstick), Tulsi (Holy Basil), Peepal (sacred fig) etc were being planted. Besides, the PWD will also construct four new dak bungalows (guest houses) on the borders of Ayodhya for expected increase in the number of tourists,” Maurya said.