Min pushes faster connectivity, AI training in YEIDA meet

Lucknow: UP industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi on Thursday directed officials to accelerate infrastructure and connectivity projects in the Yamuna expressway region, saying the upcoming Noida international airport would transform the entire belt into a major cargo and industrial hub.Reviewing projects of the Yamuna expressway industrial development authority on Thursday, Nandi instructed officials to improve road maintenance, adopt a corporate-style work culture and ensure faster online payment of land acquisition compensation to farmers. He also asked officials to simplify NOC procedures and provide AI training to authority personnel.Officials told the minister that major rail and rapid rail connectivity projects were being planned to improve access to the Jewar airport. The detailed project report (DPR) for the Delhi-Jewar Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor has been approved by the state govt and sent to the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.According to officials, provisions have also been made to integrate the proposed Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor with the airport terminal through a dedicated station, potentially reducing travel time between Delhi and Jewar airport to around 21 minutes in future.The rail ministry is also preparing a DPR to connect the airport and industrial sectors in the YEIDA region through the Chola-Sikandrabad rail line.Officials said the Yamuna expressway was emerging as a key connectivity corridor linking the Agra-Lucknow, Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Delhi-Mumbai and Ganga expressways.The minister was also briefed about plans for urban city projects in Hathras and Tappal-Bajna, besides expansion of Yamuna expressway.