The Rs 4.28 Trillion UP Budget: Yogi Sarkaar Goes Big On Expressways, Education, Kumbh Mela, Shamsaans And Kabristans

In its second annual state budget, the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh has stepped up the game with a Rs 428,384.52 crore budget for 2018-19, a sharp 11.4 per cent jump from the previous fiscal, reports PTI.

Among the major focus points of the budget this time, the government has focussed heavily on infrastructure, particularly expressways, electricity distribution and more.

A total of Rs 2,700 crore has been earmarked for development of four expressways – Bundlekhand Expressway (Rs 650 crore), Gorakhpur Link Expressway (Rs 550 crore), Agra-Lucknow Expressway (Rs 500 crore) and the Purvhanchal Expressway (Rs 1,000 crore). Apart from this a start-up fund of Rs 250 crore has been created.

Rs 30 crore has been earmarked for digitisation of government offices (e-governance). Rs 98.5 lakh has been given for the Kanha Gaushala and Besahara Pashu Ashray Yojna.

Education too saw a substantial allocation with Rs 18,167 crore being sanctioned towards the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Rs 116 crore being allocated for books and uniforms of students from Class 1 to 8. Rs 2,048 crore will be utilised for mid-day meals while Rs 167 crore will fund fruits for students.

For furniture, boundary walls and potable water in schools run by the basic education department, Rs 500 crore has been allocated while Rs 480 crore will go towards improving secondary education of which Rs 26 crore will be spent on Deen Dayal Upadhyay government model schools.

A major chunk of the budget – Rs 29,883 crore – will go towards improving electricity in the state while Rs 1,500 crore will be allocated for the Kumbh Mela 2019 to be held in Allahabad.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s poll statement of shamshaans and kabristans (cremation grounds and burial grounds) in early 2017, the budget will see Rs 100 crore being allocated for the development of cremation grounds and burial grounds in villages. The Swachha Bharat Mission (Rural) Scheme will see a Rs 5,000 crore allocation.