Azamgarh got new identity under BJP: CM
The CM on Friday inaugurated the 91.35-km long Gorakhpur Link Expressway, built at a cost of Rs 7,283 crore, from both its start and end points in Azamgarh and Gorakhpur, respectively, and said that the project would boost connectivity and redefine growth.
The expressway, which connects Gorakhpur to Lucknow, will reduce travel time to just 3.5 hours, and will also bring down the travel time from Gorakhpur to Delhi by two hours.
Besides improving connectivity, the expressway will have industrial clusters along it which will accelerate development in eastern UP. Hitting out at the previous state govts, Yogi claimed that they used to "partner with D-company and Dawood gang instead of development, breached security and made Azamgarh a stronghold of terror"."Before 2017, people did not take the name of Azamgarh as the district once struggled with an identity crisis despite having given two chief ministers to the state.
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They (opposition parties) aligned with underworld elements instead of prioritising development and turned Azamgarh into a hub of terror," he said.
"They joined hands with the D-Company and Dawood's gang, compromising with the state's security," the CM alleged, recalling the murder of Ajit Rai in 2007-08 at Shibli National College for standing up for 'Vande Mataram'. "Now, nobody would dare take law into their own hands," he said.
"After 2017, the double-engine govt gave a new identity and recognition to Azamgarh's saree, black pottery, and the music heritage of Hariharpur. After Nirahua and Neelam Sonkar became members of parliament, the district witnessed a rapid wave of development," Yogi said.
Speaking about the infrastructural development in the state under his govt, Yogi said that in 2017, there were only two expressways, Yamuna Expressway and Agra–Lucknow Expressway, adding that the latter had to be completed by the BJP govt.
"Now, the state also boasts of the 340km Purvanchal Expressway, the 300-km Bundelkhand Expressway, and the 91-km Gorakhpur Link Expressway. In addition to these, work is underway on six more expressways, including the 600km Ganga Expressway, Lucknow-Kanpur, and the Ballia link expressway," he added.
The CM said that the Delhi-Meerut Expressway had already cut down the travel time between the two cities from three hours to just 40-45 minutes.
"The Ganga Expressway will be inaugurated by the PM by the end of this year. By 2047, when India becomes a developed nation, UP will play a leading role as a developed and self-reliant state," Yogi said.
"Before 2017, roads in UP were in such poor condition that it was hard to distinguish the road from the potholes. The foundation stone for the Purvanchal Expressway had been laid, but land had not been acquired. The previous govt wanted to build a 110m wide expressway for Rs 15,200 crore, but the double-engine govt built a wider, 120m expressway for Rs 11,800 crore," he said.
Drawing a comparison between UP before 2017 and after, the CM spoke about the recent recruitments of 60,244 police personnel, and said that for the first time, youth from every caste and religion, including 12,045 girls, were selected for govt jobs without any recommendations or bribes.
"Before 2017, 'chacha-bhatija' used to go out for extortion, but now it's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. We are developing industrial clusters along expressways to provide jobs to local youths and giving them the respect and recognition they deserve across the country and the world.
Today, the youth no longer struggle for an identity. UP now has 16 airports, including four international airports, and four-lane connectivity across the state," he said.
He added that the BJP would not allow national and state security to be compromised under any circumstances and referred to Operation Sindoor, surgical strikes, and air strikes as examples of the resolve of 'New India'.
At the other end of the Expressway, where the CM addressed another gathering at Bhagwanpur toll plaza, he spoke about the benefits the expressway would bring to Gorakhpur and other parts of eastern UP.
He said that in the past eight years, Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) had attracted investments worth Rs 15,000 crore, generating employment for nearly 40,000 local youth. "With the Gorakhpur Link Expressway now operational, and with Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and Ganga expressways set to be functional by the end of this year, the UP government is building a network that will redefine growth in the state," he said.
"Who would have imagined that areas like Belghat, Khajni and Sikriganj would one day be connected by an expressway? Today, this vision has become reality. While southern Gorakhpur once witnessed large-scale migration, the region is now witnessing signs of industrial growth and job creation, with investment proposals already pouring in," Yogi said.
The CM also announced that President Droupadi Murmu would inaugurate the state's first AYUSH University in Bhathat, Gorakhpur, on June 30.
He also invited people to participate in the International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 (Saturday). "Yoga is India's ancient gift to the world, and thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it received global recognition 11 years ago. Let's adopt a healthy routine by embracing yoga. As our scriptures say, the body is the means to all pursuits, so keeping it healthy is our responsibility," he said.
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