Varanasi: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said national highway works worth Rs 5 lakh crore are underway in Uttar Pradesh, while the state is also moving towards becoming an energy exporter soon.At a function at Mungra Badshahpur in Jaunpur, Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for highway, bypass road and bridge projects worth more than Rs 3,650 crore, including the Rs 1,505-crore, 63-km Rae Bareli-Prayagraj four-lane road. He reiterated the govt’s commitment to comprehensive regional development and improved transport facilities.He said a stronger road network would connect cities, towns and villages, improve access to education, healthcare, trade and employment, and give fresh momentum to industrial growth.Gadkari said UP is witnessing historic national highway development valued at Rs 5 lakh crore. “Of this, projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore have been completed, works worth Rs 3 lakh crore are in the pipeline, and the remaining projects are progressing.”Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, he said rapid progress requires strong infrastructure in water, power, telecommunications and roads. Wherever these four essentials exist, development accelerates and large-scale jobs are created, he said, adding that UP is advancing on this path, with better roads attracting new industries.Speaking about changes in agriculture and rural life, Gadkari said farmers are the country’s food providers, but efforts are being made to help them also become energy and fuel providers. He noted that energy is now being generated on a large scale from rice and sugarcane, and ethanol production is expanding. This approach is reducing farmers’ poverty and creating employment opportunities for rural youth, he said.Highlighting technological progress, Gadkari said, “The world is changing rapidly as the use of electric and solar energy continues to rise. The govt is working with full commitment to promote new technologies.” He expressed confidence that, as a result of the wide-ranging development underway, Uttar Pradesh would soon move from importing energy to exporting it.Earlier, Gadkari launched eight important NHAI projects under the UP East regional office, covering about 191.5 km. Three completed projects costing Rs 3,210 crore were dedicated to the nation: the Rae Bareli-Prayagraj four-lane road, the Jagatpur-Babuganj-Unchahar-Alapur four-lane bypass and bridge built at a cost of Rs 1,078 crore, and the Machhlishahr-Janghai-Bhadohi road costing Rs 627 crore.Foundation stones were also laid and work commenced on five projects worth about Rs 400 crore, including the Mungra Badshahpur bypass, widening works in Jaunpur city, an overbridge at the Mariahu railway crossing, a four-lane stretch from Lata Mangeshkar Tiraha to Prasad Institute, and a two-lane bridge over the Sai river at Ramdayalganj.These works are expected to reduce congestion, shorten travel time, improve access during religious gatherings, strengthen connectivity across eastern Uttar Pradesh, and support agriculture, small industries, tourism, and the safer movement of heavy vehicles.
