Infrastructure gets lion’s share in UP budget

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government said it has earmarked ₹101 crore for the airport in Ayodhya which will be named after Lord Ram and set aside ₹300 crore for the construction of approach roads to the Ram temple in the temple town as part of its state budget for financial year 2021-22.

The ₹5.5 lakh crore budget, which was presented on Monday, proposed new schemes worth ₹27,598.40 crore in the next financial year, but no new taxes despite the state facing a high deficit.

The state’s first paperless budget, unveiled amid the Covid-19 pandemic, aims at “empowering different sections” with “self-reliance, integrated and inclusive development,” the Yogi Adityanath government said.

It comes a year ahead of the 2022 assembly elections and marks an increase of around ₹37,000 crore the previous year’s budget size.

Minister for finance Suresh Khanna began his budget address by referring to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the relief work carried out in its aftermath and how the country and its people had overcome difficulties under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Following our efforts, economy activity is gaining momentum,” Khanna said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his ministers and members of the BJP thumped the desks again and again in the state assembly as Khanna read out the announcements and promises in his 45-page address laced with brief poetry. Opposition members heard him attentively as Khanna completed his address in nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes.

A large screen was put up in the assembly hall to enable the minister to read out his address and many members, who have been given special training for a paperless budget were seen making last minute enquiries.

The state cabinet, at its paperless meeting held at the chief minister’s residence, approved the budget before it was presented in the state assembly.

“The state government is sensitive towards the problems of farmers, women, youths, entrepreneurs and labourers,” said Khanna, making token allocations for various infrastructure development projects that include expressways and metro rail projects.