Even as initial euphoria around the victory of Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll is subsiding, the new government led by the state’s youngest ever chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has its task cut out on the fiscal and industrial front.
While, the incumbent regime requires deft budgetary management to provide for the enormous sops promised in the SP poll manifesto, it needs to chalk out a comprehensive industrial and economic blueprint.
In this backdrop, UP Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Anil Kumar Gupta has underlined power, expressways, special economic zones (SEZs) and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the priorities for speedier development.
Besides, the government will review the projects proposed in the previous regime for their economic feasibility.
Fresh from his central deputation, Gupta is currently in the process of familiarising himself with development projects in the different departments.
“We will provide a transparent mechanism for industrial development and encourage PPP (public private partnership) in the various sectors,” he added.
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Gupta said the government would take pro-active steps to reach out to big investors, but also not ignore MSMEs, who were general employment generators. UP has about 3.1 million MSMEs across the state.
He also talked about giving more tooth to Udyog Bandhu, the industry interface of the government and facilitator of online industrial and investment registration.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to post bureaucratic heads in key departments, including power, public works department etc, which is hampering the ongoing projects in the new dispensation. However, the government is awaiting the closure of financial year before effecting large scale transfers.
Gupta recently held a review meeting on the proposed Noida and Greater Noida metro link and housing projects in the industrial enclaves. “There is general consensus on Delhi Metrol Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the Noida metro link, however, there are issues relating to funding and routes to be ironed out,” he informed.