‘Despite Rajnath, Lucknow got no new major project’
LUCKNOW: Even as the Narendra Modi government celebrates the completion of three years in office, people in Lucknow feel that the state capital got nothing from the Centre during the tenure. This, when union home minister Rajnath Singh, the second most powerful man in the government, represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha.
People here also feel that the rivalry between the Centre and the Samajwadi Party, which was in power in UP till March, also led to Centre holding itself from announcing any major project for the state capital.
Rather, it was Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, which hogged all limelight in the first three years of the Modi government.
The Lucknow Metro Rail project, which has Centre’s monetary contribution, was also the brainchild of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Prof Sudhir Panwar of Lucknow University feels that three years of the Modi government rather proved to be an impediment in Lucknow’s growth.
“Centre has not given any project to Lucknow in the first three years of its rule. Even after coming down to Lucknow twice, the PM did not announce any project for the state capital,” said Panwar. All projects for Lucknow’s development were initiated by the Samajwadi Party and its several proposals were turned down by the Centre, he added.
Physicist Maulindu Mishra of the Lucknow Christian College also feels the same but gives credit to the Modi government for good governance.
“Centre did not roll out any of its project in Lucknow in its first three years of governance,” admitted Mishra while pointing out that several districts of Uttar Pradesh are benefiting from the Centre’s projects directly.
He pointed out the Modi government’s flagship Ujjwala scheme, which provided LPG connections to below–povertyline households. “Poor women are the biggest beneficiaries in central, eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh from the Ujjwala scheme,” added Mishra.
However, GS Chauhan, lawyer, Lucknow high court, has a differing view. “Lucknow already has everything that a state capital must have. The previous Samajwadi Party and BSP governments have executed many projects in Lucknow. So there was nothing much which the Centre could do here,” said Chauhan. Instead, the Centre has executed many projects in other parts of the state which needed much attention and were left out in the previous state governments, he added.
Centre has not given any project to Lucknow in the first three years of its rule. Even after coming down to Lucknow twice, the PM did not announce any project for the state capital, PROF SUDHIR PANWAR , Lucknow University