Even as he opened the purse strings for Noida and Greater Noida by laying the foundation of 12 projects worth a whopping Rs 3,337 crore - the biggest development package for a single city -Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tried to break free from the Noida-centric approach of successive Governments, including the present regime, by announcing a Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF). The Chief Minister said the corpus would be used for the development of less-privileged and backward areas of the State.
“The Infrastructure Development Fund would be created from the money of profit making enterprises like Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority and Lucknow Development Authority”, Mr. Yadav said.
The Chief Minister added that the fund would be constituted soon.
Noida’s pre-eminent position on U.P.’s industrial map, boosted by its close proximity to the National Capital, was not missed by the Chief Minister, who conceded that Noida’s significance had grown largely on account of it being continuous to Delhi. Admitting that U.P.’s industrial development had been limited to Noida and Greater Noida as many industries were set up many years back, the Chief Minister said the SP Government would endeavour for the development of the entire State.
“The development of the country is not possible without U.P. becoming a developed and prosperous State”, Mr. Yadav stated.
Addressing the function held at his 5 Kalidas Marg official residence on Tuesday, Mr. Yadav said the farmers will play an important role in inclusive and sustainable growth. An environment has been created for attracting huge investments to the State, simultaneous efforts will be made to ensure the prosperity of the farm community. In this context, the Chief Minister disclosed that the milk cooperative giant, Amul, will set up its units in many centres in U.P.
Referring to the rapid urbanisation and the rural-urban migration, the Chief Minister laid stress on the creation of better infrastructure facilities in the “rapidly expanding towns” like roads, flyovers, under-passes, schools and hospitals. Mr. Yadav said the Samajwadi Party Government wanted to combine urban growth with rural prosperity.
While the foundation stone of 12 development projects in Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authority was laid by the Chief Minister, the lone project inaugurated was the 35 million litres per day capacity sewage treatment plant situated in Sector 123 of Noida. Built at an estimated cost of Rs. 40 crore, the STP would enable the Noida to become the first city in India to treat 100 per cent sewage it produces.
The proposed projects include a multi-level car parking ( Rs. 250 crore), a district hospital ( Rs. 424 crore ) and 400 KV and 200 KV power sub-stations costing Rs. 1016 crore in Noida, a medical university in Greater Noida ( estimated cost Rs. 500 crore ) and 7200 affordable houses in Greater Noida (estimated cost Rs. 400 crore ). The other projects are the administrative building of Greater Noida Authority costing Rs. 300 crore and 4425 affordable houses for economically weaker sections in Yamuna Expressway Authority at an estimated cost of Rs. 250 crore.
The Chief Minister wanted that these projects should be completed within a specified time span. He added that the single window system would be adopted soon.
Gold cards to entrepreneurs for facilitating their meeting with the officials were handed over by the Chief Minister to entrepreneurs.
