Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that a target has been set to undertake road projects worth 5 lakh crore rupees in Uttar Pradesh. He informed that projects worth 1 lakh crore rupees have been completed, projects worth 1 lakh crore rupees are under construction and projects worth 3 lakh crore rupees are in the pipeline. Addressing a public rally after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for various development projects worth around three thousand six hundred and seventy-seven crore rupees in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister said that the road infrastructure in the state has undergone a major transformation, and special attention is now being given to road quality as well.

 

Shri Gadkari said that India spends around 22 lakh crore rupees every year on the import of petrol and diesel. He said that promoting alternative fuels will reduce dependence on imports and increase farmers’ income. The Union Minister said that farmers are now set to become hydrogen providers. He added that farmers will prosper in the coming years through the production of sugar, sorghum, maize and wheat. He also said that farmers themselves would produce fuel for aircraft, which will help eradicate poverty.

 

Union Minister said that the projects inaugurated today will reduce traffic congestion, improve road connectivity and save travel time for people and transport operators in the region.

 

The projects inaugurated in Jaunpur include the 49-kilometre Machhlishahr-Bhadohi road, constructed at a cost of 627 crore rupees; a 38-kilometre bypass on the Rae Bareli-Prayagraj section of National Highway 30, built at a cost of 1,078 crore rupees; and a 63-kilometre Rae Bareli-Prayagraj link road, constructed at a cost of 1,505 crore rupees.

 

The Minister also laid the foundation stones for a 12-kilometre Jaunpur bypass, a four-kilometre Mungra Badshahpur bypass and a four-lane road from Lata Mangeshkar Tiraha to Prasad Institute. Foundation stones were also laid for a bridge over the Sai River on National Highway 135A and a road overbridge in Madiyahu town.