7 div HQs to promote eco growth of neighbouring dists

Lucknow: Seven large cities of Uttar Pradesh will act as the growth engine of smaller ones. The state government has asked the urban planning department to shape up the seven divisional headquarters (Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly, Jhansi, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Agra) in a manner that they can push industrial and commercial activities of their neighbouring districts. To be termed as city-regions (divisional headquarters along with neighbouring districts), the agenda to urbanise the neighbouring districts was pushed by the state government to promote balanced growth and achieve USD one trillion economy by 2027. The objective is to promote investments, anchor regional economic activity and set up smart clusters having all amenities for industry owners and local community.Additional chief secretary of the housing and urban planning department, Nitin Ramesh Gokarn said apart from finalising the master plan to govern the development within the cities, regional plans shall be made to cover the nearby towns and rural areas.“Regional planning is required at the divisional level to identify the key growth centres, linkages, preserve environmental, ecological and heritage resources. The city-regions that offer opportunities to locals and community will get the initial push from the state government,” said Gokarn. Sharing an example, a senior officer from the department said in Agra division the maximum number of industries are into leather products. More than 7,200 industrial units are situated within the Taj city and the objective is to decongest the key tourist city which attracts the maximum number of both international and domestic tourists every year. Similarly, in Mathura 5,300 units which are largely into producing sanitary fittings are functional and in Firozabad and Mainpuri 8,000 glassware and 5,000 tarkashi units respectively, are operational. “We can create common facilities for the dominant industries within Firozabad, Mathura and Mainpuri to boost the prospects of the micro and small entrepreneurs. We also need to ensure at the divisional headquarters level that buyers are available to supply or procure the products produced in the nearby districts,” said a senior officer of the department. Similarly, in Jhansi division agriculture, heritage, aerospace, defence is slowly picking up and could improve the economic output of Lalitpur and Jalaun. In Varanasi where close to 44,000 MSMEs are registered, besides tourism, agricultural export, handlooms, handicraft, transportation and local trade provides maximum employment. Principal secretary of the industries department, Narendra Bhoosan said the submissions of the divisional headquarters will be examined and required support to the units which are being planned in neighbouring districts would be offered as per the rules. “In case, we sense potential of setting up an exclusive area or a dedicated park to promote a product, benefits within the existing policies would be offered,” said Bhoosan.