Why In News?

=> Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced a 572 km project in Kaushambi, Ayodhya and Basti in Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs.12981 crore. Inaugurated and laid foundation stones for long National Highway (NH) projects.

Key Points:

=> Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 6 NH projects in Kaushambi costing Rs.2659 crore and 3 NH projects in Basti costing Rs.1,624 crore.

=> He laid the foundation stone of 6 NH projects in Ayodhya costing Rs.8,698 crore.

=> With the construction of 84 Kosi Parikrama Marg in Ayodhya, devotees will get a lot of convenience and religious tourism will get a boost.

=> With the construction of Ayodhya Ring Road, the problem of traffic jams will be solved. With the construction of NH-233, the birthplace of Lord Buddha at Lumbini will be connected to Varanasi and Sarnath.

=> A day earlier on January 5, Nitin Gadkari had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 821 km of national highways in Uttar Pradesh costing Rs 26778 crore.

=> He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 8 National Highway projects worth Rs.14199 crores in Kanpur, 16 National Highways projects worth Rs.7409 crores in Lucknow and 4 National Highways projects worth Rs.5169 crores at Shringverpur Dham in Prayagraj.

=> With these projects, important pilgrimage sites like Prayagraj, Chitrakoot and Shringverpur Dham will be linked with the construction plan of Shri Ram Van Gaman Marg.

=> These projects will also help in the development of leather, glass and bangle industry in Kanpur and nearby areas, as well as increase investment and industrial development in the state.