Uttar Pradesh government presents Rs 4.28 lakh crore 2018-19 budget

Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal said, "The budget size for 2018-19 is Rs 4,28,384,52 crore, which is 11.4 per cent higher than the last fiscal".

The budget earmarks Rs 650 crore for Bundelkhand expressway project, Rs 550 crore Gorkahpur link expressway project, Rs 1,000 crore for Purvanchal expressway, Rs 500 crore Agra-Lucknow expressway.

Budgetary provisions of Rs 30 crore have been made for e-office system in all government offices and a start up fund of Rs 250 crore has been created.

For power sector schemes, Rs 29,883 crore has been allocated while Rs 1,500 crore has been kept for Kumbh Mela-2019 in Allahabad and Rs 98.5 lakh for Kanha Gau-shala and Besahara Pashu Ashray yojna.

For basic education department, Rs 18,167 crore has been earmarked for Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, Rs 76 crore and Rs 40 crore respectively for providing free books and uniforms for all students of class 1-8th.

For mid-day meal Rs 2,048 crore and Rs 167 crore for distributing fruits to students have been allocated in the budget. The government earmarked Rs 500 crore for furniture, potable water and boundary walls of schools run by Basic education department.

In a bid to improve secondary education, Rs 480 crore has been allotted while Rs 26 crore for operating Deen Dayal Upadhyay government model schools.

After the presentation of the budget, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described it as progress-oriented and asserted that his government was committed to the development of the state.

On the projected growth rate, the chief minister told reporters later that Uttar Pradesh would be among the most developed states.