UP News: Trying to achieve urban and economic growth, the Yogi Adityanath government of the state has taken an important decision to form the State Capital Region (SCR) on the lines of NCR in Delhi. On such lines, any state has taken this step for the first time to ensure growth and development of multiple cities situated around the state capital, Lucknow.
Official Notification and Approval
On Friday, an official notification was released, and the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region (SCR) was created. It has been done with a nod from the UP Governor — Anandiben Patel. The Housing and Urban Planning Department issued a notification within no time after the Governor cleared the decks.
This is notified that the declaration is made under the powers vested in subsection 1 of Section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region and Other Areas Development Authority Ordinance, 2024 UP Ordinance 4 of 2024. The SCR will cover Lucknow and its adjoining districts—Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Barabanki—spanning 27,826 square kilometers.
Constitution of Development Authority
“Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region Development Authority” would be created to oversee the development projects and also to manage and utilize resources most efficiently in the newly defined area. This authority shall work under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and with the Chief Secretary to the state as the Vice President. The rest of the core members would include the Additional Chief Secretary Housing and Urban Planning, Divisional Commissioners of Lucknow and Ayodhya, the District Magistrates of concerned districts, and the Vice Presidents of development authorities of Lucknow and Unnao-Shuklaganj and Rae-Bareli.
A Vision for the Growth
In September 2022, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation for the SCR project. Emphasizing the requirement of a planned urban area, he stated that people from several cities wanted to shift their base to the state capital region. However, increasing pressure on the population and some sporadic haphazard development in the fringes in the neighboring districts have made it imperative for the strategic development of urban areas.
Adityanath said that SCR has to be formed keeping in view the needs of the future and balanced development. This program focuses on improving living standards, enhancing economic activities, and attracting investments to the region through an organized and a well-managed urban zone.
Benefits of SCR
This is expected to yield diverse benefits in the formation of the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region. Systematic development of the included districts will result in economic growth and improved infrastructure. Formation of a specific authority for development will ensure projects are executed properly, resources are well managed, and overall appearance of the urban landscape is catered to.
The Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region is thus set to emerge as a big milestone in the state development journey. The Yogi Adityanath government is planning to develop Lucknow and its periphery districts into a pulsating urban center with an identity of its own in the National Capital Region, setting a trend for other states.