North-South Corridor to lay new foundation for Uttar Pradesh’s connectivity: CM Yogi

Lucknow : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, highlighted the need for developing a robust North-South Corridor to transform Uttar Pradesh’s connectivity. Emphasizing that most of the existing highways and expressways in the state are concentrated along the East-West axis, the CM stated that it is now imperative to build a strong corridor linking districts from the Nepal border in the north to the southernmost parts of the state.

Presenting this vision during a review meeting of the Public Works Department (PWD), CM Yogi proposed that the sections falling under national highways be developed with the support of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), while the construction, strengthening, and widening of the remaining routes should be undertaken at the state level. He also directed that greenfield road projects be proposed wherever required to ensure comprehensive connectivity.

The Chief Minister mentioned that the proposed corridor would not only enhance Uttar Pradesh’s connectivity with states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh but would also boost commercial activities in border districts and promote inclusive development. Additionally, he instructed that construction materials such as cement and steel should preferably be sourced from manufacturing units within Uttar Pradesh, provided they meet quality standards.

CM Yogi further directed officials to ensure that while preparing the annual work plan, all districts and assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh benefit equally, so that no region is left behind in development. He mentioned that before starting any project, its usefulness, possible impact, and effect on the local population must be properly studied.

Considering the increasing traffic pressure in urban areas, the Chief Minister said there should be special focus on building bypasses, ring roads, and flyovers. He added that in urban local bodies with a population of over one lakh, priority should be given to construction projects that improve traffic flow and help people avoid traffic jams. Stressing the importance of road safety, he said the Transport, Public Works, and Police departments must work together. He suggested that speed breakers should be designed in tabletop style, all major roads should have proper signage and CCTV cameras, and state roads should be at least 10 meters wide.

Talking about rural connectivity, the Chief Minister said that funds from village, block, and district-level panchayats should be better utilized to provide good road facilities in villages as well. He also reviewed plans for the construction of important bridges and railway overbridges (ROBs) in the state. Among them are a proposed new bridge over the Ganga River in Prayagraj connecting Salori and Jhunsi, another bridge parallel to the Naini Bridge, and a proposed rail-cum-road bridge downstream of the Malviya Bridge in Varanasi. These projects will significantly improve connectivity and traffic flow. He also directed officials to seek help from the Government of India wherever needed for these projects.

Highlighting the need for regular monitoring of under-construction projects, CM Yogi said that accountability must be fixed in case of any delays, and there should be no compromise with technical quality. All projects must be completed with full transparency. He also mentioned that special plans are being made to ensure safe and easy access to religious places. Priority is being given to those sites that receive more than five lakh visitors annually. A total of 272 roads connecting these important religious places have been selected for widening, strengthening, and development. These routes have been chosen in a way that requires minimal land acquisition so that the work can be completed quickly.

In addition, 33 key projects have been included in the action plan to strengthen the connectivity of industrial and logistics parks. Through these projects, industrial units will be linked to national and state highways, which will further enhance the industrial landscape of the state and boost economic growth.