Yogi Government Misses Deadline on Making Roads Pothole-free by June 15

Lucknow: With the deadline over on his promise of making Uttar Pradesh roads pothole-free, state chief minister Yogi Adityanath seems to be falling behind his target. According to data available with the government departments involved, only 60% of the work has been done till now.

The irrigation department has, surprisingly, not even started work on the CM’s ambitious announcement. Data collected by News18 has also shown that sugarcane department, Mandi Parishad, Panchayti Raj and various Municipal Corporations of the state have failed to start work.

The government, however, has said that the roads completed so far are in itself an achievement. Speaking to News18, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, said, “Within just two and a half months, we were able to repair 73000 kms of roads in Uttar Pradesh, which is not less. In the previous regimes of BSP and SP, there was only meddling of funds from the budget, and no work. Atleast our government is working on the ground.”

Out of total 1.21 lakh kilometres of roads in Uttar Pradesh, only 76,000 kms of roads have been made pothole free as of now. Out of which PWD has constructed 70,300 km roads, instead of the 85,000 it was given to make.

Efforts of all the municipal corporations have resulted in the creation of only 1,116 kms of road, which is only 17 percent of their target.

The sugarcane department was aiming to repair 3716 km of roads, but it could repair only 465 km of roads in two and a half months. Similarly, Mandi Parishad has worked on only 2090km of road out of 10193 kms of target.

Panchayatiraj department has improved only 390 kms against the target of 3890 kms of road. At the same time, NHAI had restored 50 kms of road against the target of 60 kms.

The departments have, however, said that the delay has been caused due to lack of funds. Of the Rs 4,500 crore was needed to make the roads of UP pothole free, but only 20% of the funds were available with the departments.

PWD has sought 15 days’ time to repair the remaining 10,000 km roads. The Principal Secretary PWD has written a letter in this regard.

“We will be meeting to review the problems at hand, and the future course,” said Maurya.