Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the formation of the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot Regional Development Authority, bringing six districts under a new development region.
The Cabinet meeting was held on August 4, with the source reporting approval of 21 proposals along with a ₹40,000 crore supplementary budget for the financial year 2026-27.
Six Districts to Form Prayagraj-Chitrakoot Development Region
The newly approved development region will cover approximately 23,000 square kilometres and include six districts:
- Prayagraj
- Chitrakoot
- Kaushambi
- Fatehpur
- Banda
- Hamirpur-Mahoba
Prayagraj will serve as the zonal centre of the region.
According to the report, the development of the region will be planned on the lines of the State Capital Region (SCR) around Lucknow.
Focus on Tourism and Regional Development
The proposed development framework includes connectivity between religious and cultural tourism centres in Prayagraj and Chitrakoot.
The report identifies Sangam and Bharadwaj Ashram in Prayagraj and Kamadgiri and the banks of the Mandakini in Chitrakoot among the religious tourism locations to be connected.
The six districts have also been assigned different development roles in the reported plan:
- Prayagraj: Zonal centre
- Chitrakoot: Religious tourism centre and gateway to Bundelkhand
- Kaushambi: Buddhist tourism centre
- Fatehpur: Major agricultural and commercial centre
- Banda: Economic centre of the Bundelkhand region
- Hamirpur-Mahoba: Mineral and industrial development centre
Connectivity Projects Linked to Development Region
The report states that the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot region will be connected with several major tourism and connectivity projects.
These include the Ram Van Gaman Marg, connecting Ayodhya to Chitrakoot, as well as the Ganga Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Chitrakoot Link Expressway.
The Prayagraj Ring Road is also mentioned as a connectivity project intended to facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles across the region.
The reported development plans also include:
- IT parks and warehousing hubs in the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot belt.
- Connecting Bundelkhand’s handicrafts, agricultural products and stone industry with global markets.
- Development of infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and manufacturing-related activities.
₹40,000 Crore Supplementary Budget Approved
The Cabinet also approved a ₹40,000 crore supplementary budget for 2026-27, according to the source.
The supplementary budget is to be presented for passage during the Assembly session.
Other Cabinet Proposals and Decisions
The report also lists several other proposals considered or approved during the Cabinet meeting. These include measures concerning infrastructure, agriculture, startups, labour and social development.
Among the reported decisions and proposals are:
- A proposal for a 74.467-km, six-lane greenfield expressway connecting Jewar Airport with the Ganga Expressway, referred to as the Jewar Link Expressway or Faridabad-Jewar Greenfield Expressway.
- Proposals for U-Hubs in Lucknow and Noida, with the Noida facility linked to IIT Kanpur’s Noida Centre and the Lucknow facility to the IIT Lucknow campus.
- A proposed ₹100 crore budget for U-Hubs, aimed at providing startups with a common platform and single-window support.
- A proposal concerning the Molasses Policy 2026.
- Extension of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme for Kharif 2026 and Rabi 2026-27.
- A proposal to create multipurpose hubs at seven locations, with land to be made available for residential, commercial and other uses.
- A proposal to extend the agreement between the government and HCL Foundation for community projects by five years.
- Creation of a Nomadic Development Board for the social and economic development of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.
- Changes to Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana-2, including new amendments and provisions.
- New provisions under the Labour Code Rules 2026.
- A proposal to withdraw the Building and Other Construction Workers Amendment Bill, 2020 from the Centre.
- Amendments to the Madrasa Education Council Act, 2004, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision.
- Removal of recognition for Kamil and Fazil degrees following the Supreme Court’s decision, as reported by the source.
- A proposal to implement the Geology and Mining Department Service Rules 2026.
- A proposal concerning relaxation in the timeline for the IQ Solutions project.
Crop Insurance and Farmer Coverage
The source states that the Cabinet approved the implementation and extension of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme for Kharif 2026 and Rabi 2026-27.
The schemes are intended to provide coverage to farmers against events including floods, droughts and other disasters.
Labour and Social Welfare Proposals
The Cabinet agenda also included proposals relating to workers and social welfare.
These included changes to labour-related rules, amendments concerning construction workers and measures for the social and economic development of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.
The report also mentioned a proposal to increase the honorarium of ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers, with the proposed increase to be announced through the supplementary budget after Cabinet approval.
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