Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Akhilesh Yadav today inaugurated the expressway between Noida and Agra and asked the developer to upgrade the service lanes across the 165 km long expressway. He also directed that the length of the expressway from Noida to Greater Noida should be kept away from the construction agency and made toll free. Informing that cases slapped on Tappal farmers had already been withdrawn, the Chief Minister said that the state government would also withdraw all false cases against the remaining farmers very soon. 

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering at his official residence after the inaugurating the Noida-Agra six lane Expressway. He also said that the developers and construction agency should build schools and hospitals for the benefit of the local people. Besides, he stressed, development of the nearby villages alongside the expressway should also be done by them. 

Mr. Yadav also urged motorists to drive at not more than 100 km. per hour on the expressway and said that roads were the backbone of development. He said that his government was committed  to linking all district headquarters with four-lane roads, besides construction of high quality roads in the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions to ensure all round development there.

Discussing about the land acquisitions for such projects, the Chief Minister said his party had made it amply clear in its manifesto that in case of land acquisition the farmers would be given six times the circle rate. He said in some recent projects, three times of the circle rate had been paid as compensation. He also reassured that no land would be acquired without the consent of farmers and added that the government would soon come out with a land acquisition policy.
The C.M. also contradicted the allegations pointed out  by the media persons that his government was anti-Dalit and anti-backward and said that such allegations levelled by a party were completely baseless and factually incorrect. He also refuted the charge that the Janeshwar  Mishra Park in Lucknow was being built by changing its name. He said that the records showed that there was no park named after any luminary. He said that if proven otherwise then his government would accept the truth. The decision to build the park was taken to save the land from the clutches of mafia, he added. He also pointed out that the park was being built after the consent of the Hon'ble High Court. 

Mr. Yadav also said that with regards to making of parks his government was not working on the lines of the previous government. Giving example of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Park, he said that it was full of greenery. He said that the Janeshwar Mishra Park would also have the same green setting. Answering a question on the proposed Ganga Expressway, the Chief Minister said that his government was not in its favour. During a programme organised at Noida, M.P. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav inaugurated the expressway by cutting the ribbon. 

Earlier, Industrial and Infrastructure Development Commissioner (IIDC) Mr. Anil Kumar Gupta gave detailed information on the Yamuna Expressway and said that now the area's economic development would be fast-tracked. Prior to it, the Executive Chairman of the Jaypee group Mr. Manoj Gaur welcomed the Chief Minister and other ministers of the cabinet. He also announced that the group would not levy any tax on the expressway till August 15.

Those present at the function included ministers Mr. Ambika Chowdhary, Mr. Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh, Mr. Ram Govind Chowdhary, Mr. Ahmad Hassan, Mr. Brahma Shankar Tripathi, Mr. Raghuraj Pratap Singh, Mr. Durga Prasad Yadav, Minister of State for Protocol Mr. Abhishek Mishra, people's representatives, acting Chief Secretary Mr. V.K. Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Rakesh Garg, Secretaries to Chief Minister Mrs. Anita Singh, Mr. Alok Kumar  and Secretary Information Mr. Amrit Abhijaat.