Taking a dig at the leader of the opposition in the UP assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath explained the difference between annual budget and supplementary budget.
The chief minister said the government had sought supplementary grants for specific purposes. He said supplementary grants were needed for the Ganga Expressway as the goods and services tax during the tender process was 12 per cent, which had been increased to 18 per cent. He said no money had been sought for expressways like Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Gorakhpur link expressway.
Yogi pointed out that the leader of the opposition had remarked on the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, stating its value as Rs 6,000 crore, whereas the actual valuation was Rs 3,500 crore.
This link expressway passes through a low land area. It connects Sant Kabir Nagar and Ambedkarnagar.
The chief minister said that the condition of express highways and roads before 2017 was not hidden from anyone. “People used to say that wherever darkness starts, it is understood that UP has arrived. Wherever the potholes start, understand that you have come to UP.”
Yogi shared that even Shivpal Singh Yadav now expresses gratitude. “Shivpalji as PWD minister wanted to construct the expressway but he did not get the support from his nephew chief minister,” he said.
He expressed confidence that with a clear vision of the goal and steps aligned with the path, any direction would lead to the intended destination.
Yogi emphasised the government’s commitment to achieving a one trillion-dollar economy, viewing various initiatives as means to reach this objective.
He contrasted this with the previous lack of goals and vision, which resulted in a directionless state marked by crime, riots, and anarchy.
Yogi asserted that the previous government aimed to crush the faith of the youths, practiced nepotism in recruitment, and sought to dismantle the entire system.
In contrast, he highlighted the positive changes in the state’s outlook, showcasing a transformed industrial environment that is evident to all. He pointed to the success of the first UP Investors’ Summit in February 2018 as an exemplary model for attracting investments and fostering development.