Pledging a financial support of over Rs 50,000 crore for Uttar Pradesh, Urban Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that UP was on the priority list of the NDA Government as it never mixes development with politics. “It is my promise that Uttar Pradesh will get Rs 50,000 crore for development and construction of roads in 2015 and efforts would be made to develop inland waterways in UP to speed up transport system,” Gadkari told reporters here on Wednesday.
The Union Surface Transport minister held a series of meetings with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and other senior officials to understand the problems state was facing. The officials complained about poor state of national highways and how the maintenance funds have gone down in last three years.
“My meeting with CM and his officials was very fruitful. We will work together to develop resources as we in BJP never mix politics with development,” he said. Uttar Pradesh has 7543 km long road of which 4068 km belongs to National Highway Authority of India. “UP being a big state its share of national highways should be more. I have assured Chief Minister that more roads would be brought under NHAI umbrella,” he said.
“I am aware about the maintenance funds UP is getting. I cannot provide additional funds for the state but can assure that maintenance would be carried out through PPP model,” he said. Uttar Pradesh was getting Rs 25 crore for maintenance of roads till 2012. It was reduced to 15 crore in 2013 and last year it was just Rs 14 crore.
Gadkari said for speedy transport system, the Central government will introduce inland waterways transport system through Pradhanmantri Jal Marg Yojna. The Bill of this project that comprises 101 rivers of the country will be brought in the budget session of Parliament.“In the first phase Varanasi-Haldia waterways would be taken up besides seaplanes would be introduced in Mumbai. Government is considering to introduce amphibian buses which can ply both on land and water. Almost all the rivers in UP have been included in the Centre’s inland waterways project,” he said.
Talking about surface transport he admitted that projects worth over Rs 3 lakh, 80 crore across India were being delayed mainly because of hurdles in acquisition of land, ROB clearance by railways, environmental clearance and failure of the state governments to fell trees.“UP is on the top priority of the government. We have asked CM to send proposals for new road projects in the state so that these can be considered by the ministry at the earliest,” he said.
Chief Minister who was also present in the press conference said that state government has apprised Union Minister of state of national highways. “For the development of country we need good roads in the provinces. The country can progress only if states prosper,” Akhilesh Yadav said. He said the state government has assured all help in acquiring land for construction of roads. The Government will also help the Centre in strengthening water inland projects. “The priority of the government is to complete projects in time. Delay in completion of projects add to the construction cost,” he said.
CM demanded that lucknow-Kanpur road should be extended to eight-lanes and sought permission to construct Rae Bareli-Allahabad national highway into 4 lane road.later, Gadkari left for Barabanki where he laid the foundation of a National Highway- 28(C) from Barabanki to Rupaidha( Nepal border) of 146 km. Centre will spend Rs 1134 for the project. Earlier, the Union Minister had laid foundation stone for National Highways at four places in Basti, Sidharthnagar, Gorakhpur and Faizabad.