Jaunpur/Mirzapur (UP), Mar 1 (Reporter) Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday that when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, the length of national highways in Uttar Pradesh was 7343 kilometers, which will increase by 13,000 kilometers this year as the ministry will complete work worth Rs 5 lakh crore in Uttar Pradesh in the next fiscal. After laying the foundation stone of 19 projects costing more than Rs 10 thousand crore in Jaunpur district at a function organised at the grounds of BRP Inter College, Jaunpur, the Union Minister said that out of Rs 5 lakh crore, express highway corridors worth Rs 2 lakh crore have been built, along with this, works of over bridges and underpasses have been completed by spending Rs 1 lakh crore between 2014 - 2024. He said that ring roads and 40 by-passes will be constructed in UP with Rs 41,000 crore. He said that works worth around Rs 2,000 crore have been sanctioned in which by the construction of Bai in Shahganj, the distance from Jaunpur to Ayodhya will be reduced to two hours. Gadkari said that the country has made significant progress under the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan, aimed at improving multi-modal connectivity and last mile connectivity across the country. "One such project is the Prayagraj-Dohrighat Corridor Project, which is in Prayagraj, Jaunpur, and Azamgarh districts of Uttar Pradesh. This entire corridor is being constructed with four lanes," he said. He said, "The project, being built in a total of 4 packages, connects Purvanchal Expressway, 11 national highways, 2 state highways, 5 railway stations, 2 airports. The construction of this road will reduce traffic problems in these 5 important commercial cities of Phulpur, Mungarabadpur, Machhlishahr, Jaunpur and Azamgarh." The Union Minister said that the ambitious project aims to provide seamless connectivity as well as generate huge economic benefits and increase employment to consumers, farmers, youth and business people. He said that the construction of two bypasses in Jaunpur city and the Ring Road will provide relief from traffic jams and encourage industrial development. Earlier, the Union Minister laid the foundation stone of 2 National Highway projects worth Rs 1,750 crore in Mirzapur in the presence of state ministers and MPs, MLAs, and officials in Mirzapur district. He said that Mirzapur, situated under the shadow of Mother Vindhyavasini, is religiously and naturally important. "To develop this entire region, the foundation stone of 2 ambitious National Highway projects costing more than Rs 1,750 crore has been laid on Friday," he said. Gadkari said that with the completion of both these projects, it will be easier for the devotees to reach the religious places in Mirzapur district, which will boost tourism. "Economic development will get a new impetus in many districts of Prayagraj and Purvanchal including Mirzapur. Construction of 4-lane Mirzapur bypass on river Ganga will provide relief from traffic jams and improve connectivity between Mirzapur-Ayodhya, which will increase trade," he said...////...