Lucknow: In a major infrastructure and disaster preparedness initiative, the Government of Uttar Pradesh is planning to construct helipads near every block, tehsil, and district headquarters across the state.
The proposal was discussed during a review meeting of the Public Works Department’s 2026–27 action plan chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Chief Minister said the development of helipads would prove crucial during natural disasters, medical emergencies, and other crisis situations where rapid response and transportation become essential.
According to officials, the responsibility for construction, maintenance, and operational management of these helipads will be assigned to the Public Works Department Uttar Pradesh (PWD).
The Chief Minister directed that the PWD should also create a sustainable operational model for the facilities. He said that users of the helipads should be charged a prescribed fee, which would help in maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at strengthening emergency response capabilities in remote and semi-urban regions while also improving administrative accessibility and connectivity.
During the meeting, Yogi Adityanath also highlighted challenges being faced globally in the availability of fuel and bitumen due to changing international conditions. He instructed the department to adopt technological innovations and alternative construction techniques in infrastructure development projects.
The Chief Minister directed the PWD to obtain district-wise road construction plans within one week and ensure approval of the proposals by the first week of June. He emphasized maintaining high quality standards in all infrastructure projects and instructed officials to appoint nodal officers for every major project.
He further directed that foundation stone laying and inauguration ceremonies for public projects should be carried out through elected public representatives.
The Chief Minister also cautioned officials against adopting a “pick and choose” approach while preparing project proposals and stressed the need for transparency and balanced development across all regions.
District Magistrates and Chief Development Officers were instructed to review projects approved during the previous year and submit progress reports to the state government. The PWD will additionally send inspection teams to districts to monitor the quality and pace of work.
Focusing on rural connectivity, Yogi Adityanath directed officials to prioritize the construction of durable cement concrete (CC) roads for rural routes up to two kilometres in length wherever required.
He also advised the department to adopt alternative technologies in road construction due to reduced availability of bitumen. Officials were asked to use Cement Treated Sub Base (CTSB) technology in place of traditional Granular Sub Base (GSB) methods and Cement Treated Base instead of Wet Mix Macadam (WMM) wherever feasible.
Government officials believe the helipad initiative, combined with upgraded road infrastructure and modern construction methods, will significantly improve connectivity, emergency response efficiency, and regional development across Uttar Pradesh.
