Big projects delayed, Yogi cracks the whip
, ET Bureau|
Jan 09, 2018, 07.32 AM IST
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has warned officials in Varanasi of strong action, raising concern over delay in half-dozen key projects in the Prime Minister's constituency as well as repeated complaints of crimes against tourists as well as locals in the holy city.
The chief minister told officials that strong punitive action would be taken against them if the final deadlines fixed by him for delayed big-ticket projects are not met, according to people familiar with the matter. Adityanath met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday last week after concluding his two-day visit to Varanasi, and the PM is expected to visit his constituency soon.
Three major projects running behind schedule include widening of a road from the Varanasi airport to the main city, a ring road for Varanasi and a big flyover to be built at a cost of Rs 776 crore in the heart of the city.
The CM has directed that all these three projects, expected to be inaugurated by the PM, be completed by June this year, officials said.
While the ring road is only 51% complete and a four-lane road from the airport to the city has reported 71% progress, the underconstruction flyover between Chowkaghat and Lahartrg in the middle of the city has caused a traffic mess. The CM expressed his unhappiness over the delay in all three projects which were started about three years ago.
Adityanath was also furious with the police and transport authorities in Varanasi over repeated complaints of crimes against tourists and bribes being solicited by transport officers from commercial vehicles entering Varanasi. The regional transport officer of Varanasi skipped the review meeting, displeasing the CM further.
A big sewage treatment plant being built in Varanasi in Dinapur at a cost of `533 crore has also overshot its earlier deadline of completion in December 2017 and the CM now wants it completed positively by March, said one of the persons cited earlier.
Besides, the CM found out during the review, widening of two major national highways leading to Varanasi from Sultanpur and Gorakhpur also stands delayed due to required land not being handed over to the National Highways Authority of India by the Varanasi administration, the person said.
"When there is no interference in the police functioning and full freedom has been given to act against mafia, it is an issue why crimes are still occurring," the CM told the officers, pointing to an unsolved major robbery incident of last April and repeated crimes occurring against foreign tourists. He directed police officers to conduct patrolling on foot for at least one kilometre daily and take tough action against mafia.
The CM also directed quick delivery of other key projects in Varanasi - including a super speciality cancer hospital, putting up heritage poles in all major streets by February 15 and a Pavan Path (religious route) to link major temples of the city.
Besides, officials said, the state tourism department is looking at options to start a helicopter tour of the Ganga ghats and introduce cruise vessels in the holy river in public-private partnership mode.
The chief minister told officials that strong punitive action would be taken against them if the final deadlines fixed by him for delayed big-ticket projects are not met, according to people familiar with the matter. Adityanath met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday last week after concluding his two-day visit to Varanasi, and the PM is expected to visit his constituency soon.
Three major projects running behind schedule include widening of a road from the Varanasi airport to the main city, a ring road for Varanasi and a big flyover to be built at a cost of Rs 776 crore in the heart of the city.
The CM has directed that all these three projects, expected to be inaugurated by the PM, be completed by June this year, officials said.
While the ring road is only 51% complete and a four-lane road from the airport to the city has reported 71% progress, the underconstruction flyover between Chowkaghat and Lahartrg in the middle of the city has caused a traffic mess. The CM expressed his unhappiness over the delay in all three projects which were started about three years ago.
Adityanath was also furious with the police and transport authorities in Varanasi over repeated complaints of crimes against tourists and bribes being solicited by transport officers from commercial vehicles entering Varanasi. The regional transport officer of Varanasi skipped the review meeting, displeasing the CM further.
A big sewage treatment plant being built in Varanasi in Dinapur at a cost of `533 crore has also overshot its earlier deadline of completion in December 2017 and the CM now wants it completed positively by March, said one of the persons cited earlier.
Besides, the CM found out during the review, widening of two major national highways leading to Varanasi from Sultanpur and Gorakhpur also stands delayed due to required land not being handed over to the National Highways Authority of India by the Varanasi administration, the person said.
"When there is no interference in the police functioning and full freedom has been given to act against mafia, it is an issue why crimes are still occurring," the CM told the officers, pointing to an unsolved major robbery incident of last April and repeated crimes occurring against foreign tourists. He directed police officers to conduct patrolling on foot for at least one kilometre daily and take tough action against mafia.
The CM also directed quick delivery of other key projects in Varanasi - including a super speciality cancer hospital, putting up heritage poles in all major streets by February 15 and a Pavan Path (religious route) to link major temples of the city.
Besides, officials said, the state tourism department is looking at options to start a helicopter tour of the Ganga ghats and introduce cruise vessels in the holy river in public-private partnership mode.
