Early Times Report
LUCKNOW, Nov 19: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while reviewing the comprehensive urban development plans for Meerut, Kanpur, and Mathura-Vrindavan on Wednesday, said that the growth of these cities must go beyond building roads and structures. Development, he emphasized, should integrate local identity, heritage, culture, and modern amenities in a balanced manner. He instructed that projects be executed in phases, completed on time with high quality, and deliver visible benefits to citizens. He also directed that the proposed Bijli Bamba Bypass in Meerut be developed under a PPP model, similar to the Lucknow Green Corridor. During the meeting, Divisional Commissioners of the three regions presented their plans via video conferencing. It was informed that, following the models of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Prayagraj, an integrated development approach is now being adopted for these cities. Based on consultations with public representatives and inter-departmental coordination, a total of 478 projects have been outlined, 111 in Meerut, 109 in Kanpur, and 258 in Mathura-Vrindavan. These projects have been categorized into short-, medium-, and long-term phases with defined timelines. As part of the first phase for 2025-26, 11 priority projects in Meerut, 13 in Kanpur, and 14 in Mathura-Vrindavan will be taken up. These focus on traffic improvements, intersection redesign, multi-level parking, green spaces, road and footpath upgrades, underground power cabling, water management, tourism infrastructure, and overall urban beautification. For Meerut, proposed developments include the Bijli Bamba Bypass, Link Road, widening of the Hapur Adda-Gandhi Ashram stretch, Eastern Kutchery Road, Surajkund Square, improvements at 19 major intersections, Sanjay Van, a recycled water supply system from Shatabdi Nagar STP to Mohkampur Industrial Area, smart roads, and redevelopment of the University Road region, aimed at easing traffic. For Kanpur, development will be guided by the concept "Rooted in Legacy, Rising to Tomorrow." Key proposals include the widening of Mainavati Marg, multi-level parking, construction of master plan roads, urban design upgrades around Green Park, Maksudabad City Forest, Botanical Garden, VIP Road, Riverfront Link, Greenfield Corridor, Metro expansion, and the vision for a new growth zone called Greater Kanpur. |
