Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said here on Sunday that seven years ago, Azamgarh was the hub of crime and mafia activities, today, the prime minister is ‘showering money’ on the same Azamgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here to gift projects worth thousands of crores of rupees. The CM thanked him for not only providing better security environment to Azamgarh in the last 10 years but also connecting it with development, modern infrastructure and public welfare schemes.

The CM assured that in 2024, Azamgarh, Lalganj and Ghosi would also join the voice of ‘Once again Modi government’.

Yogi Adityanath was speaking at the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of 782 development projects worth Rs 34,700 crore at the Manduri Airport complex here on Sunday. He said Purvanchal Expressway, built at a cost of more than Rs 22,000 crore, has become the pivot of the development of Azamgarh. It has given a new identity to the economy of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Azamgarh residents reach Lucknow in just two hours.

The chief minister said Azamgarh Airport is going to be inaugurated by the prime minister after which the air service will start.

“Today, Uttar Pradesh is going to get five new airports due to the blessings of the PM, the double-engine government has tried to provide the best facilities here. PM Modi had said the one wearing slippers will travel by plane, today this is visible in UP and the country. In UP, where earlier only two airports were operational, today, nine airports are operational in the same UP and the PM is going to inaugurate five new airports today,” he said.

The CM said there was a demand for many decades that Azamgarh should have its own university, the university built in the name of Maharaja Suhail Dev, who defeated foreign invaders with his bravery and valor a thousand years ago, is also going to be inaugurated with the help of PM.

He said that the double-engine government has taken forward the program of Music College in Hariharpur to give a new identity to the art of Azamgarh, while to realize the vision of self-reliant India, local products have been promoted as one district, one product for the country.

After global recognition, he said Black Pottery and Mubarakpur silk sarees are getting a new identity within seven years. Atal Residential School has also been completed for the children of workers. Earlier, people used to get scared in the name of Azamgarh, today Azamgarh is making a name for itself in the country and the world for art, education, literature and development. Due to the able guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Azamgarh has got its ancient identity.

The CM said the government is making the benefits of governance schemes available to every village including the poor, youth and farmers without any discrimination. Under the leadership of PM Modi, it is working on the livelihood of the youth and is also giving respect to faith. While it is not only creating a better environment of security, it is also working towards moving forward on the path of prosperity.

“In the Azamgarh district, 11.30 lakh Ayushman cards, seven and a half lakh farmers have received Rs 1940 crore in Kisan Samman Nidhi. Three lakh beneficiaries got free cooking gas connections under Ujjwala scheme. Housing was provided to 1.10 lakh beneficiaries of PM Awas (Rural) and 17 thousand beneficiaries in urban areas in Azamgarh. In Jal Jeevan Mission, more than 4.20 lakh houses were connected to Har Ghar Jal Yojana. 5.20 lakh families got toilets in Swachh Bharat Mission. Under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme, the work of providing tablets and laptops to one lakh youth of Azamgarh was done,” he claimed.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, BJP State President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, State Government Ministers Surya Pratap Shahi, AK Sharma, Omprakash Rajbhar, Yogendra Upadhyay, Dara Singh Chauhan, Azamgarh MP Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ among others were present on the occasion.