Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday dismissed the long-held belief that Gautam Buddha Nagar is “cursed”, saying the district has emerged as the country’s biggest investment destination.
Speaking after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for 70 development projects worth Rs 2,479 crore in Noida and Dadri Assembly constituencies, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Noida Authority’s new administrative building in Sector 96.
“Gautam Buddha Nagar is not cursed. Today, Noida, Greater Noida and the Yamuna Authority together are emerging as the country’s finest investment destination. All 3 authorities are working at a rapid pace. Years of stagnation have ended, the work culture has changed, and the way has been paved for resolving the problems of citizens and entrepreneurs. I am confident that this new office will become a new symbol of development. I extend my best wishes to the citizens, farmers, entrepreneurs, public representatives and the Authority. After 50 years, Noida Authority having its own grand office is no less than an achievement,” CM Yogi said.
The Chief Minister also participated in the curtain raiser ceremony of the fourth edition of the UP International Trade Show. During the event, he distributed toolkits to beneficiaries of the One District One Product (ODOP) and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, subsidy cheques to MSME beneficiaries and recipients under the Technology Upgradation Scheme, cheques under the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, and commendation certificates to bankers for their performance.
Referring to the superstition associated with Noida, CM Yogi said, “Before 2017, Gautam Buddha Nagar was considered cursed for the then Chief Ministers. They avoided coming here. In 2017, after I became the Chief Minister, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit for the inauguration of the Metro, a message came from the Prime Minister’s Office suggesting that a minister could be sent to the programme because there was a belief that Chief Ministers did not visit Noida.”
He added, “I made it clear that I would personally come to Noida. I do not believe in such things. The job of the government is to resolve the problems of the people.”
Highlighting the government’s efforts to resolve long-pending issues in the district, the Chief Minister said the builder-buyer dispute was among the biggest challenges after his government assumed office.
“The biggest challenge before the government was the builder-buyer dispute. Within one year, our government provided houses to 1.25 lakh buyers. Later, when the matter reached the Supreme Court, a High-Level Committee was constituted under the leadership of the CEO of NITI Aayog. By providing the necessary facilities, we succeeded in ensuring homes for more than 3 lakh buyers. Now that Noida Authority has its own building, citizens will receive better services. The problems of annadata farmers, entrepreneurs, associations and common citizens will now be resolved under one roof. If the Authority makes all its services online, the system will become even more effective. Every activity can be monitored through the Integrated Command and Control Centre,” he said.
CM Yogi directed officials to take action against allottees who had acquired land but failed to begin projects.
“Those who have taken land from the Authority but have not made investments should be issued notices with a fixed timeline. If they still do not invest, new investors should be invited and a new land bank should be prepared,” he said.
Speaking about the state’s industrial transformation, the Chief Minister said, “There is a vast difference between the Noida Authority established in the 1970s and the present time. Therefore, decisions must be taken according to current circumstances. Today, wherever you go in Uttar Pradesh, you can see change all around. I congratulate everyone on the grand Noida Authority building constructed at a cost of Rs 390 crore. Today, people are experiencing the transformed Uttar Pradesh firsthand. Every person can see the difference between Uttar Pradesh 9 years ago and Uttar Pradesh today.”
He also highlighted the rapid pace of industrial development in Gautam Buddha Nagar, pointing to the upcoming Jewar International Airport and fresh investments in electronics and renewable energy.
“Today, the transformation is clearly visible. I landed at Jewar Airport. Domestic commercial flights have already started from there, and international flights will commence soon. The foundation has been laid for an electronic components and electronic circuit manufacturing project with an investment of approximately Rs 7000 crore. Similarly, the foundation has also been laid for a modern solar cell manufacturing unit at a cost of Rs 8200 crore. This will make Gautam Buddha Nagar a major centre for electronics and solar manufacturing. There was a time when this area was considered the most dangerous region of the state. People were afraid to come here after evening.”
He continued, “Today, the same place is witnessing Film City, Apparel Park, Medical Device Park and major industrial investments. All this has become possible because the double-engine government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, developed the ability to take decisions without stopping, without wavering, without tiring, without fear and without bowing.”
On the occasion of International MSME Day, the Chief Minister also stressed the role of small and medium enterprises in Uttar Pradesh’s economic growth.
“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are the greatest strength of any large industry. The dream of Viksit Bharat can be realised only when prosperous farmers, world-class infrastructure and strong manufacturing power move forward together. Before 2017, artisans and craftsmen in Uttar Pradesh were discouraged. There was neither a market, nor design, nor technology, nor any assistance. The government constituted a High-Level Committee and formulated a strategy for branding, new designs, new technology and connecting them with markets,” he said.
The Chief Minister further said, “Today, ‘One District One Product’ has become India’s brand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers it the foundation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. At present, more than 96 lakh MSME units are functioning in Uttar Pradesh, providing employment to more than 3.25 crore people. During the Covid period, when the entire world had come to a standstill, Uttar Pradesh’s MSME sector continued to function. More than 40 lakh workers returned, but the government took responsibility for their food, ration and employment. MSME units were appealed to employ one or two people. As a result, more than 90 percent of the workers remained in the state and are now contributing to its development.”
Highlighting the state’s export growth, he added, “The government provided MSMEs with technology, design and Common Facility Centres. Today, Uttar Pradesh is exporting products worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore. The Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show is being organised continuously at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida, connecting buyers from across the world with the state’s products. Uttar Pradesh accounts for 55 percent of India’s total mobile manufacturing and nearly 60 percent of electronic component production. This is proof of the state’s new industrial strength.”
During the programme, the Chief Minister also handed over investment-related documents, subsidy cheques, reservation letters, insurance cards, toolkits and commendation certificates to beneficiaries, entrepreneurs and bankers, including representatives from TCS, Physics Wallah, LG Soft India and DLF.
