Lucknow, June 27: Om Prakash Rajbhar, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and leader of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, has made serious allegations against Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister of the state, regarding the construction of the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, Rajbhar asserted that the Agra-Lucknow Expressway stands as the most significant example of corruption during Akhilesh’s tenure.
The Panchayati Minister of Uttar Pradesh accused that the expressway’s route was altered for financial gain, resulting in a convoluted path rather than a direct and efficient one. This has led to the expressway gaining notoriety for accidents, with many referring to it as the ‘Highway of Death’. The construction was rushed and ignored safety standards, costing numerous lives and displacing many families.
Rajbhar alleged that during the expressway’s construction, the Saifai family and their associates misappropriated public funds. Tales of looting abound from Firozabad to Etawah. Land was initially purchased at throwaway prices, only to have the expressway’s route changed later. Records were manipulated to show several plots as residential, and registrations continued even after the expressway’s announcement. This led to significant discrepancies in compensation, with land prices for the Saifai family and their close associates skyrocketing post-construction.
The minister further claimed that the expressway was diverted to reach the doorsteps of homes for private benefit, extending its length from 270 kilometers to over 300 kilometers. The public continues to bear the brunt of this alteration, facing increased distance, time, and fuel costs.
Rajbhar stated that layers of this corruption are continuously being uncovered. He asserted that the Saifai family will face justice and will end up in jail as a result of their actions related to this expressway. He claimed to possess a ‘dossier’ detailing the family’s misdeeds.
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