Yogi Adityanath govt tables Rs 4.28 lakh cr budget, biggest ever for UP

State Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal presented the budget for 2018-19 in the UP Assembly. It was 11.4% larger than the BJP government first budget for Rs 3.84 lakh crore, presented last year in July.

dna Correspondent

Updated : Feb 17, 2018, 05:35 AM IST

Yogi Adityanath govt tables Rs 4.28 lakh cr budget, biggest ever for UP

UP CM Yogi Adityanath with Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal

The Yogi government on Friday tabled its second budget — biggest-ever for Uttar Pradesh — worth Rs 4,28,388.52 crore, with an eye on 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and thrust on farmers, youth, agriculture, rural and infrastructure development.

Though it was the biggest-ever UP budget of any government so far, surprisingly, only Rs 14,341 crore has been allocated for new schemes launched by the Yogi government in its 11 months' rule.

Charged with ignoring the interest of the minorities, the BJP government has set aside Rs 2,757 crore for minority welfare.

For the infrastructure development, the government allocated Rs 11,343 crore to construct new roads and Rs 3,324 crore for repair works on existing roads. A sum of Rs 1,000 crore was earmarked for the country's longest Purvanchal Express, while Rs 500 crore was set aside for carrying out remaining works on Lucknow-Agra Expressway. Rs 1,650 crore has been allocated as state share for the development of smart cities in Uttar Pradesh.

In the budget, the government allocated Rs 650 crore for Bundelkhand Expressway and Rs 550 crore for Link Expressway in Gorakhpur. A sum of Rs 500 crore was allocated for the Metro Project. In addition to this, Rs 2,873 crore has been allocated for PM Gram Sadak Yojna.

The government will provide 1.5 crore new power connection this financial year. For this, it has earmarked Rs 29,833 crore for power sector. It has announced to tap on solar energy as alternate energy resources to add to its present capacity of power generation for making available electricity to all.

To boost tourism in the state, Rs 70 crore will be given to develop Ramayana and Buddha Circuits. Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for celebrating Holi in Barsana, Dev Deepawali in Varanasi and grand Deewpawaliin Ayodhya while Rs 100 crore were given to Braj Teerth Development Authority for development of Braj region. A sum of Rs 1,500 crore was allocated for the organization of Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in 2019.

For education sector, Rs 18,167 crore has been allocated for Education for all Project, Rs 480 crore for secondary education and Rs 76 crore for free book distribution while Rs 21 crore has been given for the Ahilyabai Free Education Scheme.

State Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal said the government maintained its focus on a balanced and all-around development keeping in mid backwards regions of Bundelkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"Several schemes are being launched for the welfare of farmers, youth, women, children, minority, SC/ST and backwards along with infrastructure development for wooing investments and creating job avenues for youth," said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.