Lucknow, 29 April (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's longest Ganga Expressway in Hardoi district today, declaring it the state's new lifeline for progress just as Mother Ganga has sustained the region for millennia.

Addressing a massive public gathering after the inauguration, PM Modi highlighted the poetic timing of his recent Ganga proximity—having offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath this morning before unveiling the expressway named after the sacred river. This reflects both a vision for development and reverence for heritage, he said, congratulating UP's millions on the milestone.

The Prime Minister linked the event to today's democratic festival, noting robust Phase-2 voting in West Bengal with long queues signaling fear-free participation unseen in decades. This embodies our Constitution and strengthening democracy, he remarked, urging sustained enthusiasm. He cited BJP-NDA's historic Bihar win and 80% sweep in Gujarat's recent local polls, expressing confidence in a hat-trick across five state elections, with results on May 4 energizing Viksit Bharat.

Emphasizing infrastructure's role in national growth, PM Modi recalled laying the foundation in Shahjahanpur in December 2021—now completed in under five years as one of India's largest expressways. Announcing its extension from Meerut to Haridwar, he credited double-engine governance: Shilanyas leads to inauguration; that's BJP's vision and execution.

Contrasting with past delays where projects languished in files, he highlighted how the corridor unlocks potential in fertile lands previously hampered by poor connectivity and cold storage deficits. Farmers can now reach major markets; industrial corridors will spawn opportunities across 12 districts, boosting family incomes, he stated, envisioning UP's trillion-dollar economy through thousands of crores in investments.

PM Modi underscored UP's manufacturing surge—half of India's mobiles produced locally, BrahMos missiles rolling out, defense contracts empowering MSMEs amid expressway networks and airports. Mafia films defined old UP; today it's a law-and-order exemplar, he asserted, criticizing SP as anti-development and anti-women for opposing Parliament's women's reservation bill.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Finance Minister of State and UP BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister Jitin Prasada, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and ministers Suresh Khanna, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, and Asim Arun attended the event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar