Yogi keeps focus on Varanasi to leave no room for SP, BSP revival
NEW DELHI: To keep saffron flags flying high in Uttar Pradesh even during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, it is imperative that the BJP government show development on the ground, so the leadership thinks. And to this end, the state chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, is bent on transforming the prime minister's own constituency, Varanasi, into a showpiece of development.
Varanasi has several projects running under the supervision of different central ministries. However, most of these projects have not progressed much due to lack of proper coordination between the previous Akhilesh government and the Centre.
Yogi's development drive acquires significance as the government is aware of the political challenge it faces from the state's two major players -- Samajawadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- to revive their old bases in Varanasi's adjoining districts of Ghazipur, Ballia, Jaunpur and Mau. So to get things cracking, Yogi has asked Varanasi's senior officials to ensure visible development on the ground within three months.
"The idea is to ensure the development of Varanasi as a model city for citizens. The development works should affect the city's cultural values. But, the emphasis is on making it eco-friendly," said a source in Varanasi, summing up the vision of the new BJP government for Varanasi. According to him, the new government has stressed on the need for a 'Zero Hoarding Policy' in view of the narrow lanes and crowded nature of the city.
However, removing encroachments from different parts of the city will remain a challenge for the local authorities. Apparently, it will not be easy for the Varanasi administration to widen the roads leading to the famous Kashi Vishwanathji temple.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is counting on help from the Yogi government to remove the hurdles in the way of construction of roads which would connect Varanasi with about eight districts. Yogi has infact instructed district magistrates to appoint nodal officers for the payment of compensation money to farmers in lieu of the land acquired by the government.
The Yogi government is also focused on completing the ring road around the city to reduce traffic snarls within the city -- a project expected to be completed by May 2017. However, it does not look like it will meet the deadline following protests by farmers demanding compensation for land.
And, under the Heritage City Development and Augmentative Yojana, construction work is progressing on 24 roads. Yogi has also asked the officials to send him regular reports on the works and he may personally visit the city in the second week of May to inspect see the progress of the work at these sites.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has also fixed the month of October to ensure that the city is ODF (Open Defecation Free). Under the IPDS (Integrated Power Development Scheme), cabling work would be completed in different parts of the city, including the Ghat areas.
Varanasi has several projects running under the supervision of different central ministries. However, most of these projects have not progressed much due to lack of proper coordination between the previous Akhilesh government and the Centre.
Yogi's development drive acquires significance as the government is aware of the political challenge it faces from the state's two major players -- Samajawadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- to revive their old bases in Varanasi's adjoining districts of Ghazipur, Ballia, Jaunpur and Mau. So to get things cracking, Yogi has asked Varanasi's senior officials to ensure visible development on the ground within three months.
"The idea is to ensure the development of Varanasi as a model city for citizens. The development works should affect the city's cultural values. But, the emphasis is on making it eco-friendly," said a source in Varanasi, summing up the vision of the new BJP government for Varanasi. According to him, the new government has stressed on the need for a 'Zero Hoarding Policy' in view of the narrow lanes and crowded nature of the city.
However, removing encroachments from different parts of the city will remain a challenge for the local authorities. Apparently, it will not be easy for the Varanasi administration to widen the roads leading to the famous Kashi Vishwanathji temple.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is counting on help from the Yogi government to remove the hurdles in the way of construction of roads which would connect Varanasi with about eight districts. Yogi has infact instructed district magistrates to appoint nodal officers for the payment of compensation money to farmers in lieu of the land acquired by the government.
The Yogi government is also focused on completing the ring road around the city to reduce traffic snarls within the city -- a project expected to be completed by May 2017. However, it does not look like it will meet the deadline following protests by farmers demanding compensation for land.
And, under the Heritage City Development and Augmentative Yojana, construction work is progressing on 24 roads. Yogi has also asked the officials to send him regular reports on the works and he may personally visit the city in the second week of May to inspect see the progress of the work at these sites.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has also fixed the month of October to ensure that the city is ODF (Open Defecation Free). Under the IPDS (Integrated Power Development Scheme), cabling work would be completed in different parts of the city, including the Ghat areas.
