Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the Uttar Pradesh(UP) government’s largest ever budget of Rs 5,12,860.72 crores for FY 2020-21 in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the state assembly. The budget estimates total receipts of 5,00,558 crores(Rs 4,22,567 crores- revenue and Rs 77,990 crores-capital receipts) & a deficit of Rs 12,302 crores.
Key Points of the budget
i.This budget is Rs 33,159 crore(6%) more than the last year’s budget of Rs 4.79 trillion & has provisions worth Rs 10,967.87 crore for new schemes.
ii.The budget is big on infrastructure projects, including road, airport and metro rail projects.
iii.It will play a vital role in achieving the goal of making Uttar Pradesh a USD 1 trillion economy and meet the target of making India a USD 5 trillion economy.
Major Highlights:
Infrastructure
i.Rs 500 crore set aside for an airport in Ayodhya and Rs 200 crore for the beautification of Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple so as to develop Ayodhya and Varanasi as tourist hubs.
ii.Provision to develop 46 major tourist destinations across the state. Rs 85 crores for the development of Ayodhya as a tourist spot. Rs 10 crores for the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan. Rs 180 crores to set up a cultural centre in Varanasi.Rs 2,000 crores is allocated for the Jewar airport near Delhi
MetroÂ
Rs 358 crores and Rs 286 crores for the metro projects in Kanpur and Agra respectively. Rs 200 crore will be spent on metro rail projects in Gorakhpur and other cities. Rs 2,000 crore for the 637-km ‘Ganga Expressway’
Development of backward region
Allocated Rs `300 crore and `210 crore for the socio-economic development of the backward regions of Purvanchal (Eastern UP) and Bundelkhand respectively. Construction of 4 lakh houses for the weaker sections of the city within a year
New establishment & Initiatives
The state has decided to set up a state NITI Aayog & has also taken an initiative to set up ‘Yuva Hubs’ in 75 districts.
Tourism
Provision to develop 46 major tourist destinations across the state. Rs 85 crores for the development of Ayodhya as a tourist spot. Rs 10 crores for the renovation of the Tulsi Smarak Bhawan. Rs 180 crores to set up a cultural centre in Varanasi.
Education & Youth
New universities will come up in Aligarh, Azamgarh and Saharanpur. Employment schemes like Chief Minister’s Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and the Yuva Udhyamita Vikas Abhiyan to help the youth make a living.
About UP:
Capital– Lucknow
Governor– Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel
