Lucknow – The Times of India (TOI) Dialogues Infrastructure Chapter, held in the historic yet rapidly modernising city of Lucknow, became the stage for showcasing Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) extraordinary transformation in infrastructure, governance, investment climate, and socio-economic development.
Streamed live on TOI’s website, mobile app, and social media platforms, the event brought together an eclectic mix of policymakers, industrialists, defence experts, urban planners, health specialists, and cultural ambassadors. But this was not an evening of ceremonial speeches—it was a forum designed to spark sharp debate, share success stories, acknowledge challenges, and set new benchmarks for UP’s developmental journey.
With previous successful editions in Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and other cities, this edition in Lucknow took on a special significance: the capital itself is the nerve centre of UP’s administrative vision, a city where heritage meets high-speed expressways, and where policy ambitions are rapidly turning into ground realities.
Opening Address: Vision Meets Action
The evening began with a powerful address by Prasad Saniyal, Business Head of Times of India Digital, who welcomed delegates and set the tone for the dialogue.
“Uttar Pradesh is not a state in transition; it is a state in assertion,” Saniyal declared, emphasising that UP had moved from the stage of potential to the stage of delivery in infrastructure, defence manufacturing, smart policing, and sustainable growth.
Saniyal underlined that TOI Dialogues was more than a talking shop. “Let us not just discuss the future; let us help build it,” he urged, drawing applause from an audience that included top bureaucrats, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
Avnish Kumar Awasthi: Uttar Pradesh on the Global Stage
Taking the stage next was Avnish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, joined by Pravin Kumar, Resident Editor of TOI Lucknow.
Awasthi congratulated TOI for fostering platforms that bridge governance and public discourse. Referring to successful earlier editions of TOI Dialogues in Varanasi and Kanpur, he stressed the importance of such events in showcasing UP’s progress while inviting collaboration from the private sector and global investors.
He illustrated UP’s global appeal with two telling anecdotes:
- The Africa Connection – At a Kigali, Rwanda conference on new cities, Awasthi met Jayesh Saini, a healthcare entrepreneur with roots in Kayamganj, UP. Within a month of discussions, Saini signed five MoUs for 200-bed hospitals in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Noida, and Bareilly. Two projects are already site-finalised. “This is the perception of UP in Africa,” Awasthi said, underscoring diaspora confidence.
- The Japan Chapter – In Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture and Osaka, Awasthi and his team met officials, including the Defence Minister, to explore green hydrogen and fuel cell collaborations. “The Japanese were so forthcoming, with extensive knowledge about UP and India,” he said, revealing how UP’s reputation precedes it internationally.
The $1 Trillion Economy Goal
Awasthi reminded the audience of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s 2022–23 vision to make UP a $1 trillion economy. The state recorded a GSDP of ₹25.5 lakh crore in year one and is projected to touch ₹30 lakh crore (approx. $340–350 billion) in year two—making it one of India’s top three fastest-growing states in the past eight years.
He identified five growth pillars:
- Rule of Law – Serious crimes like murder and dacoity have dropped, with UP now ranking between 25th–29th in most categories nationwide.
- Infrastructure Development – Country’s largest expressway network, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways operational, Jewar Airport set for 2026, and Ganga Expressway 90% complete.
- Close Governance Monitoring – Departmental performance tracked regularly by the CM.
- Ease of Doing Business – UP climbed from 14th to 2nd position; FDI inflow increased 400-fold in five years.
- Targeted Investments – Defence Corridor, Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority, and sector-specific policies driving growth.
Awasthi concluded with a flourish: “If the Ram Temple can be built, then anything is possible. Ram Ji ki Jai! Jai Hind!”
Maha Kumbh 2025: Administration at Its Best
Prashant Kumar, former DGP of UP, then recounted the meticulous planning behind Maha Kumbh 2025—an event attended by over 660 million pilgrims.
- Planning began two years in advance, with CM Yogi Adityanath personally inspecting preparations 15–20 times.
- Integrated Control and Command Centre coordinated Public Works, Health, Urban Development, and central agencies daily.
- Over 35,000 police personnel (peaking at 50,000) deployed, none armed—crowd control through training, soft skills, whistles, and ropes.
- 50 contingency plans rehearsed; an incident requiring evacuation was resolved within ten minutes.
Kumar highlighted the transformation in law and order since 2017–18, crediting it with boosting investor trust and propelling UP’s jump in Ease of Doing Business rankings.
Panel 1 – Defence and Infrastructure Development
Moderated by Richa Jain Kalra, the panel featured:
- Major General Ajay Chaturvedi
- Dr. Sudhir Mishra (ex-CEO, BrahMos Aerospace)
- Colonel Sanjay Singh (UPDIC/UPIDA)
- Mr. Manoj Gupta (Chairman, MKU Ltd, FICCI UP)
- Mr. Milind Raj (“Drone Man of India”)
Highlights:
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Manoj Gupta – UP’s six-node Defence Industrial Corridor (Aligarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Agra) has attracted anchor units like BrahMos and BEL. MKU now exports to 100+ countries and has a ₹650 crore order for infrared rifle sights.
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Dr. Sudhir Mishra – BrahMos JV started with $250 million FDI in 1998; now developing submarine-launched variants. Emphasised skill-building through ITIs and polytechnics.
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Colonel Sanjay Singh – ₹10,000 crore investments, 14,000 jobs created, Kanpur and Lucknow nodes near saturation. Jhansi emerging as ammunition hub.
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Milind Raj – MSMEs and startups crucial; drones used in Ram Mandir celebrations. Need for skilling 70% employable youth.
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Maj Gen Chaturvedi – UP’s connectivity and Jewar Airport make it ideal for defence R&D and manufacturing.
Invest UP: Catalysing Growth
Shashank Chaudhary, from Invest UP, revealed:
- ₹37 lakh crore investment intents received
- ₹12 lakh crore allocated, ₹5 lakh crore operational
- 13 expressways, Asia’s largest airport, and sector-specific parks have rebranded UP from agrarian to industrial.
- Outreach at World Expo 2025 (Japan) expected to yield fresh investments.
Panel 2 – Creating a Future-Ready Uttar Pradesh
Moderated by Sanjay Bhatnagar, the panel included:
- Amit Mohan Prasad (ex-Addl. Chief Secretary, MSME)
- Pulkit Khare (Mission Director, Skill Development Mission)
- Shashank Chaudhary (Invest UP)
- Rahul Ahluwalia (Foundation for Economic Development)
- Vineet Rai (Vice Chairman, Aavishkaar Group)
Key points:
- MSMEs are “biggest job generators”; CM Yuva program to support 1 lakh micro-enterprises annually.
- Skill development, industrial readiness, and rural enterprise support are vital for balanced growth.
Panel 3 – Health & Heritage: Building a Tourism-Driven UP
Moderated by Sanjay Bhatnagar, panelists included:
- Mukesh Kumar Meshram (Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture)
- Pramit Mishra (Unit Head, Max Healthcare, Lucknow)
- Shantanu Gupta (author)
- Puja Singh (Life Coach, Co-founder, My Mom’s Village)
Highlights:
- UP is working on policies for medical tourism and wellness tourism, especially post-COVID.
- Puja Singh’s vision: shift tourism from “sightseeing to soul-seeing”.
- Shantanu Gupta: Maha Kumbh success showcases tourism capacity; UP’s cultural and religious tourism potential is unmatched.
Panel 4 – Life, Travel, and Play: Real Impact of Infrastructure
Moderated by Prasad Sanyal, this discussion brought together:
- Gul Panag (actor-entrepreneur)
- RP Singh (former cricketer)
- Akshat Gupta (author)
Key takeaways:
- Gul Panag – Better roads and public transport have empowered women economically and socially.
- RP Singh – State’s role in sports infrastructure crucial; cricket talent pipeline improved but needs more facilities.
- Akshat Gupta – UP’s spiritual heritage (Rama & Krishna) + infrastructure = global tourism potential.
Building a Viksit Uttar Pradesh
- From billion-dollar defence investments to millions of pilgrims managed with precision, from world-class expressways to village-level skill development, the TOI Dialogues Infrastructure Chapter in Lucknow painted a portrait of a state determined to lead India’s growth story.
- As Avnish Awasthi summed up: “If the Ram Temple can be built, then anything is possible.”
- With visionary leadership, collaborative governance, and platforms like TOI Dialogues, Uttar Pradesh is not just talking about the future—it is actively building it.
