AT a time when Lakhimpur Kheri in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is tense over a violence that left eight people dead, including four farmers, prime minister Narendra Modi was set to visit to state capital Lucknow to take part in a three-day urban-conclave event, which will be hosted by UP’s urban development department.
Modi will inaugurate ‘Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ conference-cum-expo at 10.30 am and will also lay the foundation stones of 75 urban projects or schemes worth Rs 4,737 crore (£467 million) during his visit, the prime minister’s office said.
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During his stay at the event, the prime minister will also flag off 75 electric buses meant for several smart cities of the state and release a coffee table book for 75 successful projects of 10 smart cities. He will hand over the keys of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) houses to 75,000 beneficiaries in 75 districts of the state digitally. He will also interact virtually with the beneficiaries.
Modi will also announce the setting up of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee Chair in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow.
Lakhimpur violence: 'Nobody takes responsibility'
UP, which is ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, will go to elections next year.
The conference-cum-expo is being held by India’s ministry of housing and urban affairs as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in the run-up to the country’s 75 years of independence next year.
It is themed on transforming the urban landscape with a specific focus on the transformative changes brought in Uttar Pradesh.
Three exhibitions are being set up in the conference-cum-expo and they are Clean Urban India, Water Secure Cities, Housing For All, New Construction Technologies, Smart City Development, Sustainable Mobility and Cities Promoting Livelihood Opportunities.
All states and Union territories will participate in the conference and expo and a number of top central ministers besides UP governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be present on the occasion.
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