UP will have road infra like US by 2024: Gadkari

Ballia: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that before the end of 2024, Uttar Pradesh will have road infrastructure like in the US and the picture of the state will change with development of roads. Gadkari said, "UP will become the leading state in the country and called upon farmers to become a provider of food as well as energy." Earlier, Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of seven National Highway projects worth Rs 6,500 crore at Chitbadgaon.

'National Highway has increased from 7,643 km to 13,000 km in UP'

"The condition of roads in UP was not good before the year 2014. After the Narendra Modi government came to power, National Highway has increased from 7,643 km to 13,000 km in the state," Gadkari said. "Before the end of the year 2024, Uttar Pradesh will have road infrastructure like in America. The state is growing fast, and its picture will change with the development of roads. The villages and the poor will be happy and prosperous in the state. The youth will also get employment and UP will become the leading state in the country," he said.

'Greenfield highway to connect eastern UP with Patna, Buxar & Chhapra'

The minister said that with the construction of Ballia Link Expressway, it would be possible to reach Patna from Lucknow through Purvanchal Expressway in just four-and-a-half hours. "Ballia to Buxar can be reached in half an hour, Ballia to Chhapra in one hour and Ballia to Patna in one-and-a-half hour. With the construction of Greenfield Highway, Eastern UP will get better connectivity with Chhapra, Patna, Buxar in Bihar," he said. Vegetables of the farmers of Ballia will now reach 'mandis' of Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna easily, he said.

'Chandauli-Mohania road being constructed at a cost of Rs 130 cr'

Gadkari said that the new road from Chandauli to Mohania being constructed at a cost of Rs 130 crore will provide connectivity to Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh and Kaimur district in Bihar through the Delhi-Kolkata GT Road. He said, "With the construction of Saidpur to Mardah road, there will be direct connectivity of Mau to Varanasi via Saidpur."

Gadkari announces constriction of Ballia-Ara road

The minister said, "Due to better connectivity with other cities of the state, economic and social condition of UP will improve as well as backward areas of Azamgarh district will get new connectivity." On this occasion, Gadkari also announced the new connectivity route between Ballia-Ara through 28 kilometre new spur road at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)