WILL COOPERATE WITH CENTRE, PRESS FOR STADIUM, AIRPORT: CM
Hours after welcoming PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Friday, CM Akhilesh Yadav on his Agra visit said that his government was ready to cooperate with the centre on any schemes proposed for UP’s development. “The previous state regime was not prepared to give land to the Centre for AIIMS, but the Samajwadi Party government granted land for various schemes, including a Sainik School, AIIMS and a driving school,” said Akhilesh. He also supported the demand for an international sports stadium in Agra and promised to press for an international airport in the region as well.
AGRA: Hours after welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Friday, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on his Agra visit said that his government was ready to cooperate with the centre on any schemes proposed for UP’s development.
“The previous state regime was not prepared to give land to the Centre for AIIMS, but the Samajwadi Party government granted land for various schemes, including a Sainik School, AIIMS and a driving school,” said Akhilesh. He also supported the demand for an international sports stadium in Agra and promised to press for an international airport in the region as well.
The CM arrived in the city in the afternoon to inaugurate the 8th edition of ‘Meet at Agra’, a footwear trade exhibition organised by the Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters’ Chamber (AFMEC). His arrival was delayed, as he had to go to Varanasi to greet the PM, who is on his first visit to his constituency since the Lok Sabha election.
In his address, Akhilesh acknowledged footwear and tourism as the two main industries of Agra. “The footwear trade has thrived in Agra since the Mughal period and continues to generate employment and support the economy,” he said and outlined plans to promote tourism and footwear export here. He also promised footwear exporters that a high-level committee would be constituted to resolve the issues faced by the footwear industry and exporters all over the state.
Claiming that in his two-anda-half-year tenure, the state government had already undertaken development work with speed, he said that the upcoming “Delhi- to-Luck now stretch would be biggest the biggest expressway of the nation”. Later, he said that efforts were on to have the foundation laying ceremony for the Agra-Lucknow expressway on the birthday of SP chief Mulayam Singh (November 21).
“If you double the speed, you can triple the economy,” Akhilesh told the gathering. AFMEC president Pooran Dawar welcomed the CM and highlighted that Agra accounted for 28% of India’s footwear export. Leather Council chairman RK Jalan outlined the issues being faced by the traders and asked the CM to support a ‘non-polluting’ industry that had the potential of generating much employment.
Later talking to newsmen at Taj Khema, the CM reiterated that the state government was committed to promotion of tourism.
“The upcoming inner ring road would ease traffic woes of visitors. Besides, steps are being taken to improve water supply of Agra,’ he said and expressed confidence that attractions like Theme Park, Bateshwar, Lion Safari, Bear Rescue Centre and the Elephant Rescue Centre would inspire tourists to stay for more than a day in Agra.
He shared concerns for delay in results at University of Agra and the recent examination scam and said the government was ready for any probe if a request was made.
Akhilesh said his government was totally committed to development of the state and would cooperate with the Centre an all schemes. Replying to a question on the demand for an international airport, the chief minister said there was a proposal to build one in Firozabad near Agra. “We have written to those concerned and would write again to have the international airport here,” he said.