The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet met on Wednesday in the Maha Kumbh Mela areajilipark, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announcing a series of major decisions.

The meeting, which took place in the Triveni complex in Arail, Prayagraj, covered a wide array of topics, including new policies for the aerospace and defence sectors, the construction of medical colleges, infrastructure projects, and investment proposals.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Chief Minister Adityanath emphasised the state’s continued focus on growth and development. “We discussed various policy matters, including new incentives in the aerospace and defence sectors, which will attract large investments. Additionally, several key infrastructure projects and issues specific to Prayagraj were reviewed,” he stated.

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Among the most notable announcements was the introduction of new medical colleges in the districts of Baghpat, Hathras, and Kasganj. These colleges will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, expanding access to quality healthcare education across the state. Another medical college, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be established in Balrampur, utilising the existing KGMU Lucknow Satellite Centre.

CM Yogi also revealed that the state’s aerospace and defence policy, which was first introduced in 2018, will undergo a revamp to include additional incentives for attracting investments into the sector. “The revised policy aims to create a more conducive environment for large-scale investments,pnxbet further boosting Uttar Pradesh’s position as a hub for industrial growth,” he explained.

Further highlighting the state's growth ambitions, the Chief Minister outlined several investment proposals, including a Rs 10,000 crore investment in Mirzapur and new projects in Moradabad. He also mentioned the government's allocation of funds for providing smartphones and tablets to the youth, aimed at bridging the digital divide and encouraging skill development.

In terms of infrastructure, the Cabinet approved plans for two new bridges in Prayagraj to alleviate traffic congestion. A new six-lane bridge over the Ganga, parallel to the existing Signature Bridge over the Yamuna, will be constructed, with completion scheduled before the next Kumbh Mela. Additionally, the Chief Minister announced a major infrastructure project linking Prayagraj with Chitrakoot, involving the expansion of the Ganga Expressway.

The meeting also touched on the establishment of a Directorate of Prosecution in the state, alongside the issuance of bonds by municipal corporations in Prayagraj, Agra, and Varanasi. This follows a successful bond issuance in Lucknow and Ghaziabad and is intended to fund key development projects in these cities, including a super-speciality hospital in Prayagraj.

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Akhilesh Yadav criticises UP Cabinet meeting at Mahakumbh

Meanwhile, opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, sharply criticized the decision to hold the Cabinet meeting in the Maha Kumbh Mela area, accusing the ruling government of politicizing the religious gathering. 

“Kumbh and Prayagraj are sacred places, not venues for political agendas,” Yadav remarked. He alleged that the meeting was a deliberate attempt by the BJP to send a political message ahead of the Milkipur bypoll on February 5.

Yadav also responded to questions regarding the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, stating that members of the Samajwadi Party had already taken the dip in the past, without seeking publicity for it. He further accused the BJP government of misusing administrative machinery to influence the upcoming bypolls, a charge the ruling party has denied.

The India-Pakistan hockey rivalry has lost its sheen in recent times. Hockey in Pakistan has been in a freefall for the last decade or so while Indians have made a tremendous comeback in the same time period. The two countries used to rule world hockey at one point and the seeds for it were sown during the British rule in India.

The team led by Ammad Butt, finally secured their first victory with a 2-1 win over Japan and then delivered a decisive 5-1 win against China, to enter the semi-finals. Their final pool match ended in a narrow 2-1 loss to India.

Yadav further alleged that the BJP is turning into the “largest land mafia” and misusing laws to further its agenda. “They are focused on grabbing the waqf land and maintaining disputes rather than resolving them. Check the registries of religious places like Ayodhya or in Lucknow and Noidajilipark, and you'll find BJP people dominating the registries,” he claimed.