'Gaurav Path' to link martyrs' villages: CM Aditya Nath Yogi

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi flagged off 50 buses under `Sankalp Bus Sewa' on Wednesday in Lucknow.The new buses would connect villages with important

centres of trade

,

commerce

,

education

, pilgrimage and the state capital.

The Lucknow region, however, has not got any of the new buses as it already has several other bus services operating.

“We will provide connectivity to all villages,“ said the chief minister.He added that the state government will construct a `Gaurav Path' or roads that will connect

villages of martyrs

. The buses would be operated on improved roads to provide connectivity to those villages, he said.

Saffron in colour, the new buses will ply from seven regions. While 10 buses will ply each from Varanasi and Gorakhpur, six each will start from Jhansi, Allahabad, Bareilly, Moradabad and Saharanpur.

The buses are the first with UP State Road Transport Corporation (

UPSRTC

) that conform to Euro-IV emission norms. They have more comfortable seats than those in existing buses.

UPSRTC plans to connect more than 9,000 villages by the end of November with these buses. Bus stations across the state will also be made better with improved passenger amenities.

The state government chose the word `sankalp' over `antyodaya' which was the title thought initially for the saffron buses.

“Sankalp sounds better as antyodaya conveyed as if it was only meant for the poorest of the poor," said a source.