Akhilesh launches projects worth over Rs 3,400 cr

Emphasising on power, infrastructure, education and health as the focus areas for faster economic development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched 350 power and infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore.

While, some of these projects were inaugurated on completion, foundation stones were laid for the others.

Yadav said inaugurations and laying of foundation stones would be a regular feature in the remaining four years of his regime to fulfil the poll promises of his party.

He slammed the previous Mayawati government for uncompleted development projects, especially infrastructure projects, which had allegedly led to massive cost overruns, causing loss to exchequer. He referred to a bridge project over river Rapti, which he claimed had been lying uncompleted for the last 22 years, but would now be ready by 2014.

Meanwhile, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 222 power projects of Rs 1,141 crore for setting up power substations (both for distribution and transmission) of varying loads. Moreover, 131 infrastructure projects of Rs 2,272 crore for bridges and roads were launched at his official residence.

Addressing the media, Yadav said the power transmission and distribution system was unable to bear the load at peak hours, and hence, needed urgent upgradation for uninterrupted power supply.

State Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said his department had completed 363 bridges and 100 more would be completed this year. The state had identified road projects measuring 1,300 km, of which, 650 km would be completed this year and the remaining would be taken up soon. He urged the chief minister to allocate Rs 3,000 crore as supplementary budget for completing the pending projects.