UP govt begins probe into Akhilesh's ambitious Lucknow-Agra expressway project

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday began probe into former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's ambitious Lucknow-Agra expressway project. Avinash Awasthi, CEO of Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) along with the team of experts collected samples of roads from five places at random between Lucknow and Etawah. It was alleged that sub-standard material was used in the construction of the road. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered inquiry into the same last month. Akhilesh's dream project - the 302km, six-lane Agra-Lucknow Expressway - made national headlines ahead of the UP elections and he introduced the project to the voters as one of his biggest achievements. Likewise, after assuming CM office, Adityanath had ordered a probe into the Gomti riverfront project, another dream project of Akhilesh's government. The Gomti riverfront project was launched by SP governmnet for channelisation of the river by constructing a diaphragm wall and by landscaping and constructing intercepting drains on both the banks. Adityanath had expressed unhappiness that despite the lapse of two years and an expenditure of over Rs 1,427 crore, the work was only 60 per cent complete. Lucknow-Agra Expressway: The expressway which joins Lucknow and Agra is 302 km long. An air strip has also been constructed in Unnav, where fighter planes can land. The air strip on this expressway is 3km long. Atleast 3,500 hectare of land was purchased from 20,456 farmers in 10 districts of 232 villages for this project.