The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has taken several landmark decisions aimed at social welfare and infrastructure development, while in a significant move to fulfill a promise made during the 2022 assembly elections, the cabinet has approved free bus travel for women aged 60 and above in Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses. This decision is expected to benefit approximately 81 lakh women across the state, providing them with greater mobility and financial relief. The meeting, which saw the approval of 24 out of 27 proposals, marks a major step in the state government's commitment to senior citizens and regional connectivity.
Empowering Senior Citizens: Free Bus Travel Scheme
The proposal for free bus travel for elderly women was one of the key highlights of the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. Under the 'Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana', women who have reached the age of 60 will no longer need to pay fares for traveling in roadways buses. To avail of this facility, eligible women will be required to present their Aadhaar card or Voter ID card as proof of age. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to formally launch this scheme on Wednesday. The government anticipates that this initiative will eventually reach over 1 crore women, Notably easing their travel within the state and providing a major relief to the elderly population.
Expansion of Public Transport and Electric Buses
In addition to the free travel scheme, the cabinet has approved the purchase of 250 new electric buses for the transport department. This project, estimated to cost 425 crore, will include both 42-seater and 52-seater models. This move is part of the state's effort to modernize public transport and promote eco-friendly travel. Plus, the cabinet reiterated the tradition of providing free bus travel for all women on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This facility will be available from August 26 to August 29. Specifically, the free service will commence at 6:00 AM on August 27 and continue until the midnight of August 29, ensuring safe and cost-free travel for women visiting their families.
Mega Infrastructure: Jhansi Link Expressway and Ganga Expressway
The Yogi government has also greenlit massive infrastructure projects to strengthen the state's expressway network. A major decision was the approval of the Jhansi Link Expressway project. 30 crore. The project will be entirely funded by the state government. The expressway will start from Chainage 170+300 of the Bundelkhand Expressway near Phoolpura village in Jalaun district and extend to Ambabai in Jhansi, where it will connect with the North-South Corridor (National Highway-44). Initially designed as an access-controlled 6-lane expressway, it has provisions to be expanded to 8 lanes in the future.
Industrial Growth and Regional Connectivity
To boost industrial development, the cabinet approved the creation of an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster (IMELC) in Sultanpur. 25 crore. The selection of the developer for this project will be conducted through a global bidding process. On top of that, the cabinet approved the extension of the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar. This extension, costing 10,761 crore, aims to provide high-speed, controlled-access connectivity between two major pilgrimage cities—Prayagraj and Haridwar. This project will Importantly improve travel between Bijnor and Haridwar, fostering both tourism and economic growth in the region.