GORAKHPUR: In a veiled swipe at the Congress, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that the total number of national highways built in 65 years in Uttar Pradesh were equal to the national highways built in the state in the last six years of the BJP rule itself.
Gadkari praised the Yogi Adityanath-led government for its steps taken for all-round development, saying that it was possible because of strong connectivity. “The image of UP is changing and continuously the state is developing. With more roads, the opportunities of employment and industry will be created. We are working towards developing the undeveloped areas,” he said, adding that there wouldn’t be any shortage of funds and the work would be completed timely.
Speaking at the inauguration and foundation laying ceremony of 16 national highways in UP through video conference, Yogi hailed Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari and his deputy Gen VK Singh for putting in continuous effort for the development for construction of national highways in the country. On Thursday, the Union minister dedicated projects worth Rs 7,477 crore for constructing 505km long roads.
Yogi recalled how in 2014 PM Narendra Modi gave the responsibility of developing infrastructure of the country to Gadkari. “And today, no part of the country is left where the national highways haven’t reached. The construction of roads is the key to development,” he said.
The CM added that UP was no exception to development of national highways. “PM Modi in his visit to Gorakhpur gave assurance of road construction and the work got completed in time,” the CM said, adding that the gram panchayat land would be given free of cost for construction of national highways.
Earlier in the day, CM Yogi broke his fast of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi in Gorakhnath temple under the Amla tree along with MP Ravi Kishan, MLA Vipin Singh and other members of temple family and devotees before NH inauguration program at Gorakhpur circuit house.