NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday laid the
foundation stone
for over 14,000 projects worth a whopping Rs 10 lakh crore in Uttar Pradesh in a mega development push ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The PM also laid the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham temple in Sambhal.
Modi, who was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Kalki Dham Peethadheeshwar Acharya Pramod Krishnam, unveiled a model of the temple.
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Red tape replaced with red carpet, says PM
In his address at the ground-breaking ceremony during the
UP
Global Investors Summit,
PM Modi
said an environment of trade, development and trust has developed in Uttar Pradesh in the seven years of the "double-engine" government, and added the culture of "red tape" has been replaced with a "red carpet" for investors.
"Seven-to-eight years ago, one could not even think that such an environment of investment and jobs would be made in UP. Crime and riots were common then and no one would have even believed if anyone said that UP would be developed," said the PM.
"It has been seven years since the double-engine government was formed in UP. In these years, UP has removed the red tape culture and replaced it with red carpet culture. In the last seven years, crime has reduced in UP and business culture has expanded. An environment of trade, development and trust has developed in UP in the last seven years," he said.
Modi said that the BJP's "double-engine" government has shown that no one can prevent development to happen if the intention is there.
"The exports from UP have doubled in the past years. UP has done commendable work in electricity production and transmission. UP is the state with the most number of expressways in the country," he said.
34 lakh job opportunities
The 14,000 projects coming up in 60 districts of the state will generate more than 34 lakh job opportunities, said a government spokesperson. Over 8,000 of these projects were pledged during UP Global Investors Summit (UPGIS), held last year, when investment proposals of Rs 40 lakh crore were received.
The MoUs for remaining 6,000 projects were signed after the GIS, the industries department officials said. As many as 262 of these projects are worth over Rs 500 crore and 889 between Rs 100 crore-500 crore.
The projects relate to sectors like manufacturing, renewable energy, IT and ITeS, food processing, housing and real estate, hospitality and entertainment, and education, among others.
Circle of time has moved: PM
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Shri Kalki Dham temple, PM Modi said the country is not only bringing back its ancient idols from abroad but also getting record foreign investment.
"Our ancient idols are being brought back from abroad and we are getting record foreign investment, the circle of time has moved," the PM said and highlighted that "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had encouraged us to take pride in our identity".
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