UP plans industrial, handicraft hubs along Rs 15,000 crore E-way

The state govt is aiming to inaugurate the expressway in October 2016

With the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, estimated at Rs 15,000 crore, nearing its completion, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is now sketching a blueprint for the industrial and handicraft sector development along its route.

The plan is to develop clusters of development around 232 villages bordering major cities along the way viz. Unnao, Kanpur, Lucknow, Kannauj, Etawah, Agra etc.

UP Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal has directed officials to prepare a vision document for the economic development in the periphery of the expressway after spot surveys. A comprehensive action plan would be prepared for development of enterprises and businesses in these rural pockets.

The state government is aiming to inaugurate the expressway in October 2016. It traverses 10 districts viz. Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Kanpur City, Unnao, Hardoi and Lucknow. It is one of the flagship projects of the Akhilesh Yadav government.

Meanwhile, new roads would be laid to link the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to airports, railway terminals and metro rail corridors at Agra and Lucknow. The government has proposed an international airport at Agra to promote tourism and provide air connectivity to national and foreign tourists.

In view of the tremendous potential for IT city in areas close to the expressway, steps would be taken to develop such infrastructure at four sites identified for this purpose.

Singhal has also directed to establish Logistics Park between Agra and Lucknow. He said modern processing units and agricultural markets (mandis) be established in agriculturally progressive districts of Mainpuri, Auraiya, Etawah and Kannauj.

Besides, he directed that proceedings be initiated to declare Bangarmau Tehsil in Unnao and some villages in Agra as development enclaves of UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) in view of their potential.

Further, he directed for land acquisition through mutual agreement for the proposed Lucknow-Ballia Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway crossing nine districts, including Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Faizabad, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur.