Gorakhpur is the new Saifai under Yogi government

Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh has seen a flurry of development activities under the Yogi Aditya Nath-led government. The recently concluded Gorakhpur Mahotsav saw participation from several singers and actors, much on the lines of ‘Saifai Mahotsav’, which used to be a signature event when the Samajwadi Party was in power.

The three-day Mahotsav, which started on January 11, was inaugurated by Governor Anandi Ben Patel and saw participation from a number of state ministers and senior government officials.

"Gorakhpur secured the first place in the cleanliness survey. Likewise, the city has the potential to top in every field,” Yogi Aditya Nath said at the Mahotsav on January 14. “From next time, the Mahotsav should become a medium for trade investment, and a trade fair also should be included." The chief minister also attended the event’s closing ceremony.

The event also saw the release of a 200-page magazine called Manthan, which largely talked about the history, culture and current development work in Gorakhpur region.

As per the magazine, projects worth Rs 10,746 crore are currently being implemented in and around Gorakhpur.

During the Samajwadi Party’s rule, Akhilesh Yadav had started a lion safari in Ettawah, the district of Saifai. Now Gorakhpur is set to have a zoo at the cost of Rs 181.82 crore.

If Saifai got a medical college during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government, Gorakhpur has got an AIIMS, certain sections of which are already functional.

When Akhilesh Yadav had the Agra Lucknow Expressway built, a road was laid linking Saifai to it. Yogi Aditya Nath has planned a similar link expressway to connect Gorakhpur to Purvanchal Expressway. Currently, work is on for a 91-km-long Gorakhpur Varanasi link expressway. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,877 crore.

There are several other projects such as a sports stadium, a water sports complex, a fertiliser factory, a sugar mill, and a gas bottling plant.

Yogi is the second chief minister from Gorakhpur constituency. Before him it was Veer Bahadur Singh (1985 to 1988). Under him, too, several projects had taken off. The development of the Buddhist circuit was Singh’s idea, though he couldn’t complete it.

The Mahotsav has become a regular event since 2018 with the involvement of the state government. Though it still hasn’t matched the extravagance of ‘Saifai Mahotsav’, it too is becoming a signature event for Yogi to showcase his work.