Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the supplementary budget aims to propel Uttar Pradesh towards a $1 trillion economy.
“As the country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh is responsible for matching and contributing to this growth. To achieve this, the state has set a goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy, with the current budget being a part of this initiative,” the CM said in the state assembly on Thursday.
“A comprehensive roadmap has been prepared, dividing the state’s departments into ten key sectors. The government is engaging experts, economists, and stakeholders to ensure targeted growth, and the progress is being regularly reviewed through the Chief Minister’s dashboard to identify areas needing additional focus and support,” Yogi said.
Over the past seven years, significant infrastructure projects have been completed with cooperation from both the state and central governments. These projects include the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, and Delhi-Agra Expressway.
The supplementary budget includes funding for the Ganga Expressway to complete its main carriageway by December 2024, ahead of the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh in 2025. This project aims to provide a seamless connection between Western and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
“Efforts are underway to connect every district and tehsil headquarters with four-lane roads and block headquarters with two-lane roads, ensuring world-class highways throughout the state. A Greenfield Expressway is being constructed between Lucknow and Kanpur. Additionally, significant progress has been made in enhancing air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, the state has four operational international airports and 11 domestic airports. Jewar Airport, soon to become the fifth international airport, is set to be one of the largest in Asia, significantly boosting the state’s economy,” Yogi said.
The CM announced plans to establish the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) with construction underway on 36,000 acres of land. This initiative aims to create a new industrial city akin to Noida, revitalising the Bundelkhand region after 46 years.
The state has also launched the Rapid Rail service between Delhi and Meerut, significantly reducing travel time from three and a half to four hours to 40 to 45 minutes, thanks to a 12-lane expressway and the new rail service.
The CM highlighted progress in the energy sector and mentioned a provision of Rs 2,000 crore in the supplementary budget to ensure uninterrupted electricity for residents. He added, “In the coming years, the state will generate an additional 8,000 MW of thermal power.”
He emphasised that efforts are being made across all three areas of energy: generation, transmission, and distribution, with special attention from the government in each area.
“Over 14 lakh farmers with tubewell connections were unable to pay their electricity bills. We have waived electricity bills from April 2023 while making provisions for government and private tube wells. Additionally, we introduced a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for their previous outstanding bills,” Yogi said.
He noted that over the past seven years, additional irrigation potential of 22 lakh hectares of agricultural land has been created in the state.
The CM said that in 2016, the state’s daily electricity demand was 16,000 megawatts, which has now risen to 31,000 to 32,000 megawatts. Despite this increase, the Power Corporation is working to ensure an uninterrupted supply.
“Prior to 2017, there was inadequate electricity infrastructure—villages were without power, there were no industries, and tube well connections were not being provided. Today, we have established electricity connections, set up industries, and made extensive arrangements for power. We are delivering 24-hour electricity to district headquarters, 20 to 22 hours to tehsil headquarters, and 18 to 20 hours to rural areas,” Yogi said.
The CM stated that the government is supporting the UP Power Corporation Limited with a substantial subsidy. “We are providing Rs 46,000 crore to the UPPCL,” he said, adding that to address consumer interests and issues, responsibilities have been assigned to each DISCOM.
He mentioned that this is a transitional period with significant changes in energy sector infrastructure, which might lead to some issues. However, he assured that efforts are underway to achieve a permanent solution.