Azamgarh, July 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid foundation stone to the Purvanchal Expressway project in Azamgarh. The six-lane highway, which is expected to be completed by the onset of 2020, will connect state capital Lucknow to the nine districts falling in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region, also referred to as Poorvanchal.

Modi was accompanied at the project launch by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. While addressing the gathering, Yogi said the project will connect Purvanchal, one of the backward regions in the nation, to the pace of development. "This will exponentially increase the employment and tourism opportunities in the region," he claimed.

Purvanchal Expressway: Key Facts to Know

- The six-lane highway, covering a length of 340km, will connect connect several towns of eastern UP, including Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur – with the state capital – Lucknow. The districts of Ayodhya and Gorakhpur will also be connected to the expressway.

- The UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has estimated the project cost as Rs 23,000 crores. The deadline to complete the roadway construction is 36 months, said UPEIDA chief Awanish Awasthi.

- At least 10 industrial parks are expected to be set-up along the 340-km highway, which will provide job opportunities to the vast population in east UP region.

- In a bid to boost private investment, the state government has announced a list of sops: 100 per cent waiver of stamp duty registration for private industrial parks; 50 per cent interest on land circle rate, or upto Rs 50 lakh, will be borne by the government; 60 per cent interest on loans acquired for infrastructure will also be paid by the government.

Analysts, however, claim the land acquisition could be a strenuous task for the government as farmers in the region are likely to pose resistance unless offered a price way above the market rate for acquiring their lands.

From a political perspective, wooing the eastern UP region is essential for the BJP as the region voted enmasse for the saffron party in the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 assembly elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2018 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).