In a cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, several significant proposals concerning infrastructure, higher education, transport, women’s welfare, home affairs, cooperatives, stamp and registration, and state taxes were approved. Key decisions finalised during the meeting included the approval of two new expressways, the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme, the procurement of new buses, and the scheduling of the monsoon session of the state legislature.
Green Signal for Two New Expressway Projects
The cabinet approved the construction of an approximately 333-kilometre-long greenfield expressway connecting Prayagraj to Sonbhadra. The estimated cost of this project is around ₹26,000 crore. Additionally, approval was granted for the 117-kilometre-long Vindhya-Purvanchal Link Expressway, which will entail an expenditure of approximately ₹9,039 crore. This expressway will pass through Ghazipur, Mirzapur, and Chandauli, connecting with the Purvanchal Expressway to strengthen regional connectivity.
Approval for Link Expressway and Diversion Construction
The cabinet approved the selection of a developer—under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) mode—for the link expressway connecting the Purvanchal Expressway to the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. Simultaneously, a proposal to construct a 1.18-kilometre-long diversion on the Purvanchal Expressway was also approved.
Implementation of Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme
The government has decided to implement the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Scheme starting from the 2025-26 academic year. Under this scheme, petrol-powered scooties will be provided to the top 5% of female students from government, government-aided, and private colleges. Priority will be given to female students who are differently-abled, dependents of martyrs, or from destitute families. A provision of ₹400 crore has been made for this scheme, and it is estimated that approximately 50,000 female students will benefit from it.
Approval for Research Chairs and Hostel Construction
A decision was taken to establish research chairs in universities and colleges to promote the Indian knowledge tradition, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Eligible universities will receive financial assistance of up to ₹2 crore, and colleges up to ₹1 crore, in the form of a fixed deposit (FD); the interest earned from this will fund research activities. Additionally, approximately ₹2.48 crore was sanctioned for the construction of a hostel with a capacity of 112 female students at Basant Mahila University in Varanasi. Approval was also granted for the construction of a 500-bed ‘Chief Minister’s Working Women’s Hostel’ in Varanasi.
Boost to Transport and Fire Services
The Cabinet approved the procurement of 220 new electric buses for the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, at an estimated cost of ₹400 crore. Furthermore, an interest-free loan of ₹20 crore was sanctioned for the operation of the Uttar Pradesh Outsourced Services Corporation’s portal and other related arrangements. To strengthen fire services, a decision was made to purchase 44 water tankers and 5 foam tankers. The government stated that this would enhance firefighting capabilities in narrow lanes and inaccessible areas.
Approval for Other Proposals
The Cabinet also approved proposals regarding amendments to the service rules for clerical staff in the Women’s Welfare Department, new service rules for the Governor’s Secretariat and domestic service staff, and the provision of land for a new Sub-Registrar office building in Kanpur Nagar.
Monsoon Session from August 3 to 6
The Cabinet approved the proposal to convene the Monsoon Session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature from August 3 to 6. During this session, the government will present the supplementary budget alongside legislative business.
