Change of guard: UP projects worth Rs 1,50,000 crore in limbo

Majority of these projects were launched in the run-up to the 2017 state poll

The fate of infrastructure and development projects worth almost Rs 1,50,000 crore, which were either kicked off or had their foundation laid by outgoing chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, is staring at uncertainty following the defeat of the Samajwadi Party (SP) dispensation in Uttar Pradesh.

Most of these projects were launched during the run-up to the 2017 UP poll in the concluding months of calendar 2016, in order to beat the model code of conduct, which comes to force once the election schedule is announced by Election Commission (EC).

These projects would measure up to 40 per cent of the UP Annual Budget for 2016-17, pegged at Rs 3,46,000 crore. The budgetary grants or special funds for these projects were provided in the Annual Budget or provisioned in the mid-term supplementary budgetary grants.

Some of the big infrastructure projects were Agra-Lucknow Expressway (Rs 15,000 crore), Lucknow-Ballia Purvanchal Expressway (Rs 22,000 crore), Lucknow Metro Rail (Rs 12,000 crore).

While Yadav had inaugurated the 302-km long Agra-Lucknow Expressway on November 21 after an impressive air show by Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets at Unnao district, the civil work on the flagship project is still underway.

The CM had laid the foundation of the 356-km long Lucknow-Ballia Purvanchal Expressway on December 22, 2016. However, no major headway has since been made on this. Now, the change of guard in UP has put a question mark on the fate of this project.

Likewise, the outgoing CM had flagged off the trail run on the priority section of the Lucknow Metro on December 1. However, it would still be several weeks and even months before the metro service commences its commercial run.

In fact, the inauguration of the metro trial run had prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take potshots at the CM during UP electioneering, when he had urged Yadav to accompany him for a ride on the metro, thus implying the flagging off ceremony was just a ploy to hoodwink people into believing that the metro was up and running.

On December 20, Akhilesh had launched or laid the foundation of development projects worth over Rs 60,000 crore. These included inauguration of a block in the super speciality Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, a new bus terminus, 200-bed hospital, international cricket stadium in Lucknow, cancer hospital, and UP Mandi Parishad project, among others.

Other big projects include IT City, Jai Prakash Narain International Centre, swimming pool, UP public works department (PWD) projects.

On December 23, Akhilesh inaugurated and laid foundation of development projects worth Rs 51,000 crore in Etah district. These includes foundation laying of 2x660 megawatt (Mw) of the Jawaharpur thermal power project in Etah, 2x660 Mw Obra ‘C’ thermal power project in Sonebhadra district, Harduaganj thermal power project extension and other power sector projects in Kannauj.

One of Yadav’s pet projects, which was rather whimsical in nature and not only incurred a huge investment, but utterly failed to fulfill its objective, has been the Lion Safari at Etawah.

Almost 10 lions and lionesses have so far died after taking ill, though the state government and forest department had roped in foreign based experts to try and cure them. Some of these lions were also brought in from Gujarat, spurring a bitter war of words between Yadav and Modi in their election speeches.

Experts had warned that the climate of Etawah was not conducive for breeding lions, yet the state went ahead with its plans.