Praising the efforts taken by the Yogi Government in Uttar Pradesh for the transformation of India’s most populous state into an investment destination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that one of the two defence industrial corridors will be in UP.

The announcement of the creation of two defence industrial corridors was made in the Union Budget 2018 on 1 February by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

“It has been decided that one of the two corridors will be here in Uttar Pradesh,” the PM Modi said to applause from the gathering.

With focus on Bundelkhand’s development, the PM said that the belt will include Lucknow, Agra, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Aligarh. The investment will likely be to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore and the project will employ over 2.5 lakh people.

Following the announcement, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted her thanks adding that her ministry as well as other stakeholders, including the three services, will commit themselves to the success of the corridor.

Dhanyavaad, @PMOIndia @narendramodi for this announcement. We @DefenceMinIndia @DefProdnIndia @adgpi @indiannavy @IAF_MCC shall commit ourselves for its success. @PIB_India @PIBHindi https://t.co/x7WdDivd7D

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) February 21, 2018

“Yogi government’s initiatives for the development of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions will contribute to the progress of the state,” the PM said at the event where he showered praises on the Yogi government’s initiatives.

Read More: This is how PM Modi praised Yogi Adityanath at UP Investor Summit

Two new international airports will be built in Kushinagar and Jewar, the PM said adding that 11 other airports will also be built in as many cities of the state.

Underlining the infrastructure policy of the Centre for the state, PM Modi said that rail and road connectivity will help boost tourism.

“Through the new tourism policy, UP will achieve tremendous growth in tourism sector, which has already been given an industry status,” he said.

Varanasi to Haldia national waterways will also help boost UP’s economy. Metro expansion in UP’s cities including those in NCR will also speed-up the growth of India’s most populous state, added the PM.

“We will create an infrastructure which will take UP to new heights in 21st century,” the PM said.

The two-day UP Investors Summit started on Wednesday, 21 February, at Lucknow. The event was attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Ram Naik, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and industry leaders such as Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra among others. Former PM of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth, too, was among the guests.