Lucknow, 21 July (HS): A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday approved a proposal to purchase new

electric buses to expand the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC)

bus fleet. A total of Rs. 425.50 crore will be spent on this project. A

provision of Rs. 400 crore has been made for this project in the financial year

2026-27. An additional Rs. 25.50 crore will be borne by the UPSRTC. This clears

the way for the purchase of 250 new electric buses.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna stated that, as per the

cabinet decision, 100 electric buses (12 meter, 3x2 Type-II, 50 seater) and 150

electric buses (12 meter, 2x2 Type-III, 41 seater) will be added to the

roadways fleet. The operation of these buses will make the state's public

transportation system modern, environmentally friendly, and passenger-friendly.

Manufacturers of the state will get priority: The total cost

of purchasing the new electric buses is estimated at Rs. 425.50 crore. Of this,

Rs. 400 crore will be provided by the state government, while the remaining Rs.

25.50 crore will be arranged by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport

Corporation from its own resources. The Yogi government has also decided to

prioritize Uttar Pradesh manufacturers in purchasing buses, which will boost

industrial activity in the state.

CAQM directives will be followed in NCR: According to CAQM

directives, starting November 1, 2026, only CNG, electric, and BS-6 vehicles

will be permitted to enter Delhi. The purchase of new electric buses will

ensure Uttar Pradesh Roadways' timely compliance with these standards, ensuring

uninterrupted bus operations in the NCR region. This decision by the Yogi

government is also considered significant given the environmental standards

being implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Aims to reduce pollution with amenities: Through these electric

buses, the Yogi government will provide clean, safe, and modern transportation

to passengers in the state's major religious, tourist, and urban areas. This

will reduce dependence on diesel-powered buses, reduce air pollution, and

promote environmental protection.

Employment opportunities will increase in the state: The

operation of new buses will expand the Transport Corporation's fleet, creating

new employment opportunities for drivers, conductors, and skilled and unskilled

personnel involved in technical maintenance. Furthermore, bus operations will

also boost businesses related to dhabas, restaurants, and other passenger

amenities, leading to increased indirect employment.

A 500-bed ultra-modern working women's hostel will be built

in Varanasi: The Cabinet has approved the proposal to transfer 6,000 sq.mt of

government land free of cost to the Women Welfare Department for construction

of a 500-capacity high quality women's hostel in Varanasi under the Chief

Minister Shramikjeevi Mahila Hostel Yojana.

This land is registered in the name of Harijan Industrial

Government, Government of Uttar Pradesh. It will now be transferred to the

Women Welfare Department. This hostel will be constructed with 100% state

government funding. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna stated that the Council of

Ministers has approved a proposal to build a 500-student hostel on 6,000 square

meters of land in Varanasi. The budget included a provision for the

construction of seven hostels, of which approval has already been given for

Jhansi, Agra, Meerut, and Gorakhpur. The proposal for Varanasi has also been

passed today.

In response to the ever-growing female workforce needs in

the private, government, and industrial sectors, the Women's Welfare Department

is constructing safe, comfortable, and affordable hostels for working women.

The objective is to provide women with safe housing at affordable rates. The

Women's Welfare Department, under the state government, will operate this

scheme on a non-commercial, no-profit, no-loss basis. With this

social objective in mind, government land is being transferred free of charge

to the Women's Welfare Department for the construction of a hostel in Varanasi.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi