U.P. accounts for 42% of India's expressway network: State govt

With the inauguration of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Uttar Pradesh now accounts for 42% of the country's total access-controlled expressway network, up from the earlier 38%, a government spokesperson said on Friday.

- HT Correspondent

VARANASI: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said people of Uttar Pradesh were earlier scared of taking the name of Azamgarh or identifying with the place but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become the fortress of "indomitable courage".

Highlighting improved connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, which he described as the land of expressways, Adityanath also said India would have become independent in 1857 itself if the Purvanchal Expressway had been there at the time.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway at Salarpur in Azamgarh.

This link expressway will not only connect Azamgarh to Gorakhpur, but will also give a new impetus to the entire Purvanchal (eastern UP), he said.

The Gorakhpur Link Expressway stretches from Jaitpur (near National Highway-27) in Gorakhpur to Salarpur in Azamgarh, where it connects to the Purvanchal Expressway.

It spans Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, and Azamgarh districts.

Gorakhpur Link Expressway has been constructed at a cost of ₹7,283 crore. Yogi, who dedicated the expressway to the public and left for Gorakhpur with his convoy to conclude the inauguration at the other end of the expressway, took a swipe at the Opposition. He further alleged the previous (non-BJP) governments used to partner with D-company and Dawood gang instead of development, breached security and made Azamgarh a stronghold of terror but added that there was a sea change now.

"Today, if someone tries to play with the security of the state, then Yamraj's ticket is already booked for him," Adityanath said.