Conducted my own study to plug leakages, help UP generate Rs 36,000 crore: Yogi

Lucknow: Taking pride in UP's transformation from a state that once struggled to pay salaries to becoming revenue-rich, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that his govt worked hard to check leakages to achieve the turnaround.
"After becoming the CM of UP, I sat down with key officials to discuss how to gather funds for the people of the state. Some of them told me to go to the union govt and ask for it. But then that was not a sustainable way… the problem continued to baffle the officials over the subsequent meetings so much so that some of them desired to proceed on leave," the CM recalled, speaking at industry body FICCI's national executive council meeting.
"Finally, I conducted my own study and told the officials that UP will mobilise its own resources by embracing financial discipline and plugging in all the leakages from the enormous state budget. This generated about Rs 36,000 crore for the state and became the base for transforming Uttar Pradesh into a revenue surplus state today," he said.
Adding that in the post-independence decade, UP's per capita income was almost at par with the national average, he further said: "In decades thereafter, UP's position on various fronts fell and eventually it was included in the list of BIMARU states. Eight years ago, when the BJP formed its govt here, the per capita income was almost one-third of the national average. With focused efforts, UP has witnessed extraordinary progress, and the country's most populous state and vast consumer and labour market is open and ready for investment."
Acknowledging FICCI's role as a partner in Uttar Pradesh's development journey through cornerstone events like UP Investor Summits in 2018 and 2023, the CM said: "UP has become the country's growth engine and has emerged as the second-largest state economy. The state has doubled its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and per capita income."
Blaming previous govts for the poor state of affairs in UP before 2017, Yogi said: "In the past, people were forced to conceal their identity due to rampant anarchy, hooliganism, and corruption. But today, UP stands as a beacon of law and order. Unnecessary loudspeakers have been removed, roadside religious events regulated, and the safety of women and traders ensured. The govt has also introduced transparency in police recruitment, appointing over 60,000 trained officers."
Emphasising Uttar Pradesh's infrastructure development, the CM said that earlier, the state was associated with bad roads and darkness. But today, Uttar Pradesh has the country's largest expressway network, metro rail, rail network, and waterways.
"The state has 16 functional airports. Apart from this, steps like a logistics hub and dry port have made Uttar Pradesh attractive for investment," he pointed out.
He also highlighted the govt's efforts to enhance the investment climate, noting that in 2017, when companies like Samsung and TCS considered leaving UP, the govt reassured them. Today, the state has attracted Rs 15 lakh crore in investments.
The Chief Minister shared that Uttar Pradesh now offers over 500 approvals through a single-window system, supported by 33 sectoral policies and the Nivesh Mitra portal.
The Chief Minister hailed the successful organisation of the Maha Kumbh as a testament to Uttar Pradesh's potential, highlighting that Rs 7,500 crore was invested in rejuvenating Prayagraj's infrastructure.
Addressing critics who questioned whether organising the Maha Kumbh was the govt's responsibility, he pointed out that the event was not confined to Prayagraj alone; cities like Kashi, Ayodhya, and Mathura also saw massive gatherings of devotees, boosting local businesses and reshaping Uttar Pradesh's image.