The chief minister pointed out that his government was the first to realise the ancient identity of Agra and make efforts to establish that over the ‘forcibly imposed’ identity of a Mughal city.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced Rs 488 crores worth of development projects in Agra that will bring the city to the forefront of development in the state.
Addressing a large gathering of party supporters, the Chief Minister pointed out that his government was the first to realise the ancient identity of Agra and make efforts to establish that over the ‘forcibly imposed’ identity of a Mughal city.
He said that due to the TTZ restrictions on setting up industries in Agra, his government has decided to promote IT and ITES-based employment opportunities to thousands of youngsters every year in the city and its nearby districts that fall under the TTZ.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that all these accomplishments were made possible due to the ‘double-engine’ government working in UP. “The support of the local municipal bodies also has a great impact on the speed of this double-engine government, as is being witnessed in Agra,” he said.
CM Adityanath said that under BJP’s ‘double-engine’ government, Agra is making progress every day. “Before 2017, Agra was known worldwide as the dirtiest city in India. Today, Agra has the highest number of ‘Pradhanmantri Awas’ allottees in the country, and under the ‘One District One Product’ scheme, the city’s Marble Handicrafts and Leather Industry are undergoing rapid development,” he pointed out.
The chief minister further said that that before his government came into power, the pollution levels in Agra were so high that the Supreme Court had to prohibit all industrial activity in the district, forming a Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). “Today, the situation has changed and Agra is setting new benchmarks under the Smart City Project. The Agra Metro Project is underway on a war footing and within one year it will radicalize the public transportation scene of Agra, while also giving a new identity to the city,” he said.
Adityanath also said that Agra’s air connectivity has been highly improved under his government and today, the city is connected to all major cities in the country by air. He also assured that Ganga water supply will reach every household in Agra within the next few years.
Commenting on former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party’s ambitious Mughal Museum project, Adityanath said that the naming of the museum showed the mentality of the past government. He said that Agra did not need Mughals, it needed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, so the museum was renamed after Shivaji.
Referring to the G-20 conclave to be held next year in India, CM Adityanath said that it is a major achievement for the country to play host to the 20 largest economies of the world in the 75th year of Independence.
He assured that every citizen who falls under the eligibility criteria and hasn’t received the keys to his house will get a house very soon. He said that his government has worked with the central government to further relax the ease of doing business norms in UP so that the state’s businessmen could effortlessly work towards the collective development of Uttar Pradesh. Soon, businessmen will also receive their incentives through an online portal.
Lastly, the chief minister urged the assembled party supporters to ensure that the speed of development under the double-engine government does not slow down at any cost and to empower the local bodies so that they can work together with the Central and UP governments.
