The future of BJP in Uttar Pradesh is very good, Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said asking people not to worry about it.
"You don't worry. Our future is very goood," he said responding to a question about the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Gadkari, a former president of BJP, was on a two-day visit here during which he met party workers and took stock of the political situation in the state ahead of the polls.
BJP had bagged 73 of 80 Lok Sabha seats along with its ally Apna Dal in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
However, after that it put up dismal shows in panchayat elections and some civic body polls.
Gadkari also elicited views of senior party leaders on the issue of next UP BJP chief and whether to project someone as the party's chief ministerial candidate.
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Apart from correcting engineering flaws, one major decision the government had taken 2 years ago was to more than double the length of National Highways from 96,000 kms to 2 lakh km, Gadkari said.
It was a historical decision, he said, adding that it has succeeded in taking the number to 1.55 lakh km.
National Highways which constitute barely 2 per cent of the total 52 lakh km of roads, account for 40 per cent of the traffic, he said.
"National Highways accounted for a share of 35 per cent in total number of persons killed and 29.1 per cent in total number of persons injured in road accidents," the Minister said, adding that once the length is doubled, 80 per cent of the traffic will shift on it and concerted measures will minimise accidents.
"We are building roads at a fast pace which has gone up to 27 km a day and unlike previous regime where state CMs had to make several rounds with requests for declaring state highways into national highways, we are facilitating their requests," Gadkari said.
Also, under Pradhan Mantri Sadak Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY), "we have decided to allocate 10 per cent of the central reserve fund from petrol and diesel to states to fix accident spots which translates into Rs 900 crore as there are several spots were unfortunately hundreds of people die."
States can do work worth Rs 2,700 crore in a year under PMSSY, he said adding that states have been asked to review the accident spots as given the large number of deaths.
He added that a letter is also being issued to state governments form committees at districts, headed by MPs and comprising local DM, SSP and others to recommend actionable points to curb accidents locally.
Among other measures to curb accidents is identification of 726 black spots which will be fixed at a cost of Rs 11,000 crore.
A three-member committee has been asked to come out with a report on crash barriers to prevent accidents on hilly terrains like Himachal Pradesh, the Minister said.
Besides rail crossings are built using pre-cast technology.
He said speed-breakers are faulty and government was looking at designs for 3-dimensional speed breakers on roads.
