Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 17 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during his visit to Gorakhpur, announced development initiatives worth INR 1,500 crore, including the inauguration of projects valued at INR 1,000 crore and the foundation-laying of new works worth INR 500 crore.

Speaking at the event, CM Yogi said, ‘Today Gorakhpur is getting the gift of projects worth INR 1,500 crore. Projects worth INR 1,000 crore are being inaugurated, and the foundation stone of projects worth INR 500 crore is being laid.’

Recalling the poor state of power supply in the region prior to 2017, he said, ‘Before 2017, electricity was hardly available in Gorakhpur. There was a rotation of five hours in urban areas and five hours in rural areas. Electricity used to come for one week at night and not for the other week. This was the situation before 2017.’

Emphasising the importance of development, the Chief Minister remarked, ‘There can be no alternative to development. Those who failed to bring progress are the ones trying to disrupt the harmony of society.’

Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Yogi said, ‘Before 2014, India was drowning in corruption and faced a climate of distrust. Terrorism and Naxalism posed major threats to national security. But in the last 10 years, we have seen the rise of a new India—an India that is setting global benchmarks in development and decisively tackling internal threats.’

In a lighter moment before the formal ceremonies, CM Yogi was seen interacting and playing with children, adding a human touch to the day’s events.

On Friday, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a 500-bed Powergrid Vishram Sadan at AIIMS Gorakhpur. He stated that the institution is steadily contributing to the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India.

‘AIIMS Gorakhpur is moving ahead on the path of progress; it is a matter of happiness. It is situated in the heart of eastern Uttar Pradesh. I am confident that we will be able to contribute to fulfilling Prime Minister Modi's vision, which he has seen by linking health services with the vision of a developed India,’ CM Yogi said.

The rest house will be constructed at a cost of INR 44 crore and accommodate up to 500 people. Supported by the Power Grid Corporation of India as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, the facility will assist patients and their families travelling from distant locations for treatment at AIIMS Gorakhpur.

Additionally, CM Yogi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth INR 91 crore at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology in Gorakhpur.

He also inaugurated a grain-based distillery plant worth INR 1,200 crore under the super mega project at the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA). Speaking at the event, he stated, ‘This is not just a distillery but an ethanol plant.’ He explained that the plant will initially produce 3.5 lakh litres of ethanol per day, with production expected to rise to 5 lakh litres in the later phase.

Highlighting national progress in ethanol production, CM Yogi said production in India has surged from 42 lakh litres to 177 crore litres since the approval to produce ethanol from surplus sugarcane under PM Modi’s leadership.

He also underlined the transformation of GIDA under the BJP-led government, stating that GIDA has attracted investments worth over INR 15,000 crore, a sharp contrast from earlier times when industrial interest in the region was minimal.

(ANI)