Title - Budget promises Metro, flyover near Mayawati's residence

LUCKNOW: The much-touted metro rail project in Lucknow figured among the major highlights of the state budget with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav promising speedy process of its implementation. However, the budget does not throw any light on the allocated amount to metro rail. Sources said the expected cost of the project has escalated to more than Rs 20,000 crore, posing a major challenge for the government to arrange its finances. The government said it would assess the committee's report on metro rail and evaluate if the requirements are fulfilled by operating on public-private partnership (PPP) model. If the funds still remain insufficient, government said it would make further arrangements in the budget. The revised project is proposed to cover all major commercial spots in the city including major engineering colleges, medical and management institutions, group housing complexes and important offices. Another important highlight of the budget is the proposal to construct a rail overbridge (ROB) from Loreto Convent crossing to Telibagh road which would pass in front of the BSP' state headquarters blocking its front view. The project has been sanctioned Rs 40 crore.

Incidentally, this ROB would also pass near BSP chief Mayawati's Mall Avenue residence. The Bahujan Samaj Party termed the proposal as politically motivated and staged a walkout in the House during budget proceedings. Taking a dig at the state government, BSP leaders claimed that if the real intention is to remove traffic congestion on roads, the government first needs to construct an overbridge on Vikramaditya Marg which has the residence of SP chief Mulayam Singh and the party's office.

Another ROB has been proposed near Alamnagar railway station at a cost of Rs 37 crore. In the earlier budget, the government had made provisions for four new overbridges - Purania crossing in Aliganj, Daliganj, IT and Arjunganj, out of which only two are being implemented in full swing.

As far as metro is concerned, the CM assured that the government has conducted a comprehensive study on the feasibility and financial model of metro project. Reportedly the per kilometre construction cost of metro route has come down to Rs 180 crore but the project cost has escalated because of the extension of the route to all major commercial destinations in the city.

Sources told TOI that most of the route is being constructed overhead to bring down the cost but the total cost has shot up much above Rs 20,000 crore as against the original plan of spending around Rs 12,000 crore. The proposed route has extended up to 60 km as compared to the previous plan of about 38 km. The corridor starting from Amausi would go beyond Chinhat. Talks on metro project were even on during Mulayam as well as Mayawati governments but none of them could actually bring it to reality, given the massive cost entailed by it.

Making the budget more infrastructure centric, CM has allocated Rs 250 crore for all round infrastructural development of cities including Lucknow. A significant recommendation is the setting up of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia State Administrative and Management Academy in the state capital to impart training to senior administrative officers. Modernisation of Lucknow zoo is also on the agenda.

A sum of Rs 20 crore has been allocated for setting up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Lucknow. It has been also proposed to set up software Technology Park and IT City in Lucknow though its construction was in last year's provisions too.

Another repetition in the budget is construction of an eight-lane access controlled green field expressway from Agra to Lucknow. Also, decision has been taken to link district headquarters with 4-lane roads, including Lucknow, with an allocation of Rs 350 crore.

Arrangement of Rs 476 crore has been made for the construction of new building of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. A sum of Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked as revolving fund to provide treatment to retired/current employees of high court at SGPGI.

Establishing a government inter college at gram panchayat Sairpur of Lucknow district and upgrading the junior high school at Behta village, Bakshi-Ka-Talab as a government inter college is also proposed.