New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved 24 proposals on Tuesday. These included lifelong free bus travel
for women aged 60 and above and the extension of the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar.
Under the Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana, eligible women can travel free of cost on all buses run by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. State Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh said the scheme could benefit more than one crore women across Uttar Pradesh. Passengers must show a valid identity document, such as an Aadhaar card or Voter ID card, to use the facility.
Relief for elderly women
An official statement said the scheme fulfilled a promise made by the BJP in its election manifesto. The government aims to reduce the financial burden on elderly women who travel for family, social, religious or medical reasons.
The decision came ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The Yogi Adityanath government presented it as a welfare measure to improve mobility and make public transport more accessible to senior women. The free travel facility will apply throughout a beneficiary’s lifetime after she turns 60.
Expressway extension approved
The Cabinet also approved the extension of the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The government estimates that the project will cost Rs 10,761 crore. The extension will improve road connectivity between Bijnor and Haridwar. It will also create a faster, controlled-access road link between Prayagraj and Haridwar, two cities that host the Kumbh Mela.
The government expects the project to reduce travel time and make journeys between western Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar easier.
Sultanpur industrial cluster
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the development of an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster near the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur.
The government will develop the cluster under the Industrial Corridor Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 272.25 crore. The project aims to improve industrial infrastructure in the region. It will connect manufacturing units with logistics facilities and major transport routes. The government expects the cluster to attract investment, support businesses and create employment opportunities in Sultanpur and nearby districts.
UP Cabinet approves lifelong free bus travel for women aged 60 and above
