UP govt presents Rs 4.3-trn budget; focus on farmers, job creation

The budget earmarks Rs 6.5 bn for Bundelkhand expressway project, Rs 5.5 bn Gorkahpur link expressway project, Rs 10 bn for Purvanchal expressway, Rs 5 bn Agra-Lucknow expressway

Yogi Adityanath government on Friday presented its Rs 4.28 trillion (Rs 4,28 ,384.52-crore) budget for 2018-19 which is 11.4 per cent higher than the last fiscal.

Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal said, "The budget size for 2018-19 is Rs 4.28 trillion, which is 11.4 per cent higher than the last fiscal".

The budget earmarks Rs 6.5 billion for Bundelkhand expressway project, Rs 5.5 billion Gorkahpur link expressway project, Rs 10 billion for Purvanchal expressway, Rs 5 billion Agra-Lucknow expressway.

Budgetary provisions of Rs 300 million have been made for e-office system in all government offices and a start up fund of Rs 2.5 billion has been created.

For power sector schemes, Rs 298 billion has been allocated while Rs 15 billion has been kept for Kumbh Mela-2019 in Allahabad and Rs 9.85 million for Kanha Gau-shala and Besahara Pashu Ashray yojna.

For basic education department, Rs 181 billion has been earmarked for Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, Rs 760 million and Rs 400 million respectively for providing free books and uniforms for all students of class 1-8th.

For mid-day meal Rs 20.48 billion and Rs 1.67 billion for distributing fruits to students have been allocated in the budget. The government earmarked Rs 5 billion for furniture, potable water and boundary walls of schools run by Basic education department.

In a bid to improve secondary education, Rs 4.8 billion has been allotted while Rs 260 million for operating Deen Dayal Upadhyay government model schools.

After the presentation of the budget, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described it as progress-oriented and asserted that his government was committed to the development of the state.

On the projected growth rate, the chief minister told reporters later that Uttar Pradesh would be among the most developed states.