Provisions for Infrastructure Improvement in UP

What provisions have been made in the budget of Uttar Pradesh for 2023-24 to improve its infrastructure?

Approach: Introduce the answer by giving a background about the Budget 2023-24. In the body, mention the provisions for improvement of infrastructure in it. Conclude by highlighting the significance of this focus on infrastructure.

UP budget (2023-24) has identified improvement in infrastructure as key to overcoming the global economic slowdown.

Provisions for infrastructure

1. a) Construction and maintenance of roads and bridges; b) ~3500cr for development of agri-marketing infrastructure; c) broadening of other key roads (State highways, industrial roads)
2. a) Jhansi Link Expressway and Chitrakoot Link Expressway; b) Gorakhpur industrial corridor along the Gorakhpur link expressway; c) International Film City in Noida
3. a) Health infrastructure under PM-ABHIM* (Health and Wellness Centres, CCUs, Integrated Health Labs); b) allocations under the “One District One Medical College” scheme and for Pharma Parks.
4. a) Irrigation facilities and flood control mechanisms (Middle Ganga canal Phase II, Saryu canal); b) re-construction of 569 dried up wells in dark zones; c) allocation over 25000cr under Jal Jeevan Mission; d) support for rural and urban housing and allocation under PMGSY.
5. a) Transmission system for Green Energy Corridor II in Bundelkhand; b) launch of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme for capacity expansion; c) allocation for operationalization of UP Solar Energy Policy-2022 and UP Bio-Energy Policy-2022.
6. a) Transport infrastructure in key cities (ropeway in Varanasi, metro in Agra and Kanpur); b) 3000cr allocated for Mukhyamantri Shehri Vistarikarna Yojana; c) allocation for Mahakumbh in 2025.
7. a) Drinking water, sewerage and sanitation facilities under AMRIT 2.0 and SBM 2.0; b) support for local bodies under the “Aakanshi Nagar Yojana”; c) 50cr grant to local bodies in culturally and religiously significant areas for basic infrastructure.
8. a) Establishment of State Data Centres and IT Parks; b) Operational Kayakalp to transform schools into ‘Smart Schools’; c) setting up of digital libraries at Panchayat and ward levels; d) Project Alankar for State secondary schools; e) grants for setting up new state universities (Moradabad, Devipatan).

Emphasis on infrastructure reflects the Government’s commitment to transform UP into a modern and progressive state. (300 words)

*PM-ABHIM- Pradhan MAntri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission