LUCKNOW: Chief minister
Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said
Uttar Pradesh had undergone a decisive transformation in the past nine years, moving from a state marked by poor law and order, migration, policy paralysis and weak infrastructure to one that now presents a new model of development, security, investment and welfare.
Speaking at the 9 Defining Years of Transformation Conclave organised by The Times of India in Lucknow, the chief minister described the journey as not merely administrative change, but a generational shift in mindset, governance and opportunity.
He described the conclave as an important platform to familiarise the younger generation, those who were children nine years ago and are now adults with the scale of change the state has witnessed.
Reflecting on history, Yogi Adityanath said India was once the world’s largest economy, contributing nearly 44–45% to global output for centuries due to its fertile land, water resources, manufacturing strength, traditional handicrafts, trade networks and tourism rooted in pilgrimage. However, loss of confidence in indigenous systems, disruption of innovation and research, and repeated invasions weakened the country over time. Despite enduring centuries of exploitation, India survived and has now begun its resurgence, he said.
The chief minister emphasised that Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state should never have been reduced to a “bimaru state”. Yet, nearly a decade ago, UP was widely known for poor law and order, unemployment, farmer distress, migration of traders, frequent riots, collapsing industries and a governance system weakened by corruption, nepotism and policy paralysis.
“The youth faced an identity crisis, farmers were driven to suicide, businesses were fleeing, and festivals had turned into flashpoints of violence,” he recalled.
When the double-engine govt was formed in 2017 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the situation was grim. The state treasury was strained, banks were reluctant to lend, development had stalled and the annual budget stood at around Rs 2.5 lakh crore for a population of over 20 crore.
Yogi Adityanath said the first month of his tenure was devoted entirely to intensive planning, daily review meetings, departmental presentations and goal-setting—which laid the foundation for a “new Uttar Pradesh”.
He acknowledged that difficult decisions were necessary: zero tolerance on crime and corruption, firm action against mafias, removal of appeasement politics, and creation of transparent, sector-specific policies. “We resolved that there would be no discrimination no favouritism based on caste, creed, region or language. Development would be for all, but policies that destroyed Uttar Pradesh would be kept at bay,” he said.
The results, according to the Chief Minister, are now visible across all 75 districts. “Power supply is uniform and uninterrupted across cities and 58,000 gram panchayats alike. Infrastructure has undergone a revolution UP now accounts for nearly 60% of the country’s expressway network, including the Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Ganga Expressways,” he said.
CM said, “Jewar, once associated with crime and unrest, has now become “India’s jewel” with the country’s largest Noida International Airport which is set to commence commercial flight soon. The airport will emerge as a logistics hub and will host India’s first MRO facility.”
Urban mobility has expanded rapidly with metro services operating in multiple cities and the country’s first rapid rail running between Delhi and Meerut. Inland waterways now link Varanasi and Ayodhya, while four-lane road connectivity seamlessly connects UP to neighbouring states and Nepal.
On agriculture, Yogi Adityanath said growth has risen to 18%, supported by free irrigation across nearly 50 lakh hectares, expansion of canals and tube wells, access to technology, and assured procurement at MSP. Sugar mills, once stranded with unpaid dues, have been transformed into integrated sugar complexes producing ethanol, power and refined products. With 92% sugarcane payments completed this season, UP now leads the country in recovery rates, he said.
The MSME sector has emerged as a major strength, with around 96 lakh units providing employment to over three crore people. A land bank of 75,000 acres, robust law and order, and sectoral policies for 34 industries have made Uttar Pradesh the most preferred investment destination in India. Nearly 65 lakh youth who earlier migrated for jobs now find work within the state, while over nine lakh govt jobs have been awarded transparently, backed by the country’s toughest laws against exam paper leaks.
Tourism has also seen unprecedented growth. During the last Mahakumbh alone, over 66 crore devotees visited Prayagraj, while total tourist footfall in the state crossed 156 crore in a year, boosting the service sector and local livelihoods.
The Chief Minister highlighted major welfare initiatives, housing for 65 lakh poor families, toilets for over 2.6 crore households, free ration for 15 crore people, Ayushman Bharat health cover for 10 crore beneficiaries, and prompt disaster relief. Per capita income has tripled from Rs 43,000 in 2017 to over Rs 1 lakh today. The state budget has expanded to over Rs 9 lakh crore, while GSDP has grown from Rs 12 lakh crore to Rs 36 lakh crore without imposing new taxes.
Calling for collective responsibility amid global challenges such as energy and supply disruptions, Yogi Adityanath urged citizens to adopt renewable energy, public transport, carpooling and biogas models linked to cow shelters. “When the nation is secure and prosperous, every citizen is secure,” he said.
Concluding, the chief minister asserted that Uttar Pradesh has shed its past image. “Our youth now stand tall with pride. Where once they were viewed with suspicion, today they are welcomed with respect. This change is the true achievement of the last nine years,” he said.
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