Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all concerned departments to accelerate road repair and reconstruction works across the state, with a specific focus on restoring roads damaged due to the recent monsoon. The move comes in light of the upcoming festive season, which includes Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath.
Review Meeting with Key Departments
The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting on Tuesday with departments including Public Works (PWD), Rural Development, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj, Irrigation, and Sugarcane Development. The meeting focused on the status of the ongoing “Gaddha Mukt Abhiyan” (Pothole-Free Campaign) and the broader road infrastructure restoration drive.
Officials informed the CM that out of 6,78,301 roads spanning 4,32,989 km, a total of 44,196 km has been targeted for pothole-free status. So far, 21.67% progress has been recorded on this front.
Performance of Departments
The Chief Minister took detailed progress updates from each department and issued strict instructions to underperforming ones to speed up efforts. Notably, the PWD has achieved 84.82% progress on its allocated road network. Other departments such as Rural Development (62.99%), Urban Development (35.50%), and Industrial Development (48.77%) also reported varying levels of progress on their road renewal and special repair projects, which currently cover 2,750 km.
Focus on Transparency and Accountability
CM Adityanath emphasized the need for transparent and time-bound utilization of allocated funds, particularly within urban local bodies. He warned that any delays or lack of transparency could result in reconsideration of mayoral powers in municipal corporations.
The Chief Minister also instructed immediate clearance of pending payments to EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) and reiterated the importance of completing all surveys and submitting detailed action plans by September 30.
114 Roads Identified for Immediate Attention
Out of the total 649 routes assessed, 114 roads were found to be in unsatisfactory condition. The CM directed officials to prioritize these for immediate repairs to ensure smooth traffic movement during the festival period. He stressed that the condition of roads during festivals reflects directly on the image of the state, and any negligence will not be tolerated.
Plans for North-South Corridor
In a strategic infrastructural push, the Chief Minister also discussed the development of a North-South Corridor to complement the state’s existing East-West expressways and highways. He proposed a robust corridor connecting the Nepal border in the north to the southern districts of the state. For this, collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been suggested, including proposals for new greenfield road projects where necessary.
Road Renewal Underway
The ongoing road renewal campaign currently includes 31,514 km, with rapid progress reported from PWD. The CM emphasized completing the restoration work well before the start of the festive season to ensure public convenience and uphold the state’s image.
