Yogi Govt orders inquiry into Akhilesh’s dream Lucknow-Agra Expressway project

Uttar Pradesh: CM Adityanath has ordered an inquiry into former CM Akhilesh Yadav’s dream project Agra-Lucknow Express. UP government has also written to the district magistrates of 10 districts regarding the same. Regional heads have been ordered to probe purchase of land made in last 18 months. Atleast 230 villages based around Expressway would fall under this investigation. There are allegations that to extract more profits from the government a few have shown their farm land as residential land. CM Yogi Government has contacted public survey agency RITES for the job. Lucknow-Agra Express was making headlines ahead of the UP elections, where Akhilesh was claiming the project to be one of his biggest achievements; on the other hand the opposition was pointing fingers at the project claiming that a huge scam is behind the project. During campaigning for the Assembly Elections, Akhilesh had said, “If PM Modi walks on this Expressway; even he would vote for Samajwadi Party”. But, after Yogi Government has launched an inquiry on the project, several questions are being raised on Akhilesh’s claims.    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. A cost of Rs 11526.73 crore was predicted for the project.