Lucknow, Mar 12 (Reporter) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that 40 per cent population of Uttar Pradesh will be residing in urban areas in the next five years. After launching 341 development projects worth Rs 11,000 crore of the Urban Development Department at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the CM said that in 2017, 24 percent of the population lived in urban areas, the percentage of people living in towns and cities has gone up to 30 per cent today. He said, "This is the new UP of the new India, which not only carries out development works, but also preserves its heritage. It ensures the livelihoods of the youth and respects the faith of people. It creates a better environment for security in the state and is committed to advancing the state towards prosperity through new measures." Yogi said, “When every citizen of the state participates in this progress, it reflects the commitment to PM Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'. Every Indian should be committed to making our country a developed India. People used to say that only humans are becoming smarter, but the Prime Minister has also made the cities smart." He also felicitated the beneficiaries of various schemes and mentioned that it is the first time such a large-scale inauguration and foundation laying ceremony for projects by the Urban Development Department is taking place. He said that projects worth three times the budget of the Urban Development Department seven years ago are being inaugurated today in one go. The CM said that 112 new municipal bodies have been formed, including three new municipal corporations. Municipal Council and New Urban Panchayats have also been established, and their geographical areas have expanded. "Numerous schemes, including Smart City and AMRUT Mission, have been implemented, which are playing a significant role in achieving the goals of ease of living," he said. He said, “With the support of the central government, UP is progressing towards becoming a state of smart cities. Under the Smart City Mission, a total of 17 municipal corporations, including ten with Central government's support and seven under State Smart City Mission, are being developed as smart cities. UP is the first state in the country which is connecting all the municipal corporations with the Smart City Mission." Yogi emphasised the importance of forming cleanliness committees in each ward to ensure cleanliness without incurring any additional cost through the elected chairperson-councilor. He called for participating in efforts for door-to-door waste collection and contribute to initiatives for solid waste management. He lamented poor electricity supply before 2017. "To address this, we installed 16 lakh LED street lights for free across the state. Now, all municipal areas shine with bright LED lights. As a result of LED street lights, carbon emissions and electricity consumption have been reduced. Contributing to achieving the minimum carbon emission goals aligned with the Smart City mission and the Prime Minister's vision, the municipalities are actively supporting this initiative," he said. The CM said that previously, heaps of garbage characterised the cities. "Although cleanliness has improved, there is a need to enhance good work even further," he said. He emphasised the importance of planning for the next five years, ensuring no waterlogging in cities, having well-maintained roads and making urban bodies self-reliant. He suggested increasing the income of urban bodies for this purpose. Yogi said, "Over the past seven years, both the central and state governments have achieved significant targets. Under urban development, an amount of more than Rs 3500 crore has been distributed to 15 lakh poor people in the state so far and 56 lakh poor people have been provided with PM Awas. Three crore people have access to toilets, 15 crore people are benefiting from free ration, 19 lakh street vendors are availing the PM SVANidhi scheme, and citizens in 762 urban bodies are benefiting from government schemes without discrimination." He expressed the idea of designating new and backward municipal bodies as aspirational municipal bodies, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision on the lines of Expressive Development Blocks. He urged everyone to actively participate in achieving the goal of 100 percent sanitation. The CM mentioned that UP is the first state in the country to have received numerous awards in different categories. "It is also the first state where metro services have been initiated in six cities. Varanasi is introducing the facility of ropeways, and there is a desire to start ropeway services in Shahjahanpur as well. There is considerable demand for electric bus services, and urban development has rapidly expanded this initiative," he said. He said, "Along with CM Nagar Srijan Yojana, Vandan Yojana, Green Road Infrastructure Development Scheme, work has also been done to encourage women volunteer groups under Deendayal Upadhyay National Urban Livelihood Scheme." Yogi said, “In the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, everyone has acknowledged the city's development works. With the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj next year and the Mahakumbh in 2025, the Urban Development Department has already commenced its work. The department also played an important role in the successful organisation of G-20 under India’s chairmanship." He said that Urban development is presenting a distinct image in the state with new innovations, and it can be a model for the country. He emphasised that the project worth Rs 11,000 crore is a significant step in the direction of Prime Minister's vision of a developed India. The CM said that every municipal body should strive for self-reliance and achieve the goals of ease of living for developed UP and developed India. He expressed the need for another term for the Modi government in 2024 to achieve the goals of a developed India...////...