LIVE: UP Govt Presents Budget 2018-19, Announces Funds Of Over Rs 4.28 Lakh Crore

Lucknow: An amount of Rs 4,28,384.52 crore was allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government in its second annual budget on Friday. State Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal said that the amount has been increased by 11.4% as compared to last year.

While the state BJP government had allocated Rs 3.84 lakh crore last year, the funds this year has been increased with new schemes worth Rs 14,341.89 crore.

Highlighting the achievements of the state government, UP Finance Minister said, "While 20 new Krishi Kendras were set up in 2017-18, UP produced over 25 lakh tonnes of sugar and we gave 80 lakh tonnes of seeds to sugarcane farmers. We also implemented UPCOCA law last year to deal with crime."

Agarwal further said that 5,500 centers will be opened in the coming year to purchase wheat, and Rs 100 crore for Chief Minister's Self-Employment scheme.

To promote pilgrimage, the government has announced establishment of 'Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan' in Ghaziabad, and has allocated over Rs 94 crore for the purpose. The project is scheduled to be completed this year. The government has also given Rs 70 crores for development of Ramayana, Krishna and Sufi circuits, while Rs 100 crore has been allocated for Braj Teerth Vikas Parsihad.

The minister said that Lal Bahadur Shastri's Varanasi home will be turned into a museum.

Agarwal further said that Rs 650 crore has been allocated for Bundelkhand Expressway, Rs 550 for Gorakhpur Link Expressway and Rs 1,000 crore for Poorvanchal Expressway. The government has also allocated Rs 500 crore for the existing Lucknow-Agra Expressway.

For the development of health sector, the government has announced to open 100 new Ayurvedic hospitals in Uttar Pradesh villages, while AIIMS in Greater Noida will get 100 MBBS seats.

The government has kept Rs 2,757 crore for minorities welfare, of which Rs 404 crore has been allocated for modernisation scheme for 'Arabi-Farsi madrassas' and Rs 486 crore for Arabic Schools.

Rs 13.50 crores has been announced for increasing security of UP Secretariat in Lucknow.

For the first time, a cabinet meeting was also called before the budget.