Yogi Adityanath Prioritises Motorable Roads After Monsoon Damage

Lucknow, September 11 – Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath issued an order to make rain‑worn roads quickly motorable and to plan their long‑term renewal once the monsoon retreats. At a Friday review of the Public Works Department, he demanded a constant watch on road conditions while rain continues and a fresh survey of any new potholes.

He highlighted that the state will witness a massive flow of commuters during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Diwali, and that no major route should experience traffic snarls. Consequently, he instructed that all essential repairs be finished before the festive period begins.

The CM clarified that pothole‑filling should not stop at temporary patchwork. Roads in critical condition must be upgraded to a fully usable standard now, with permanent upgrades scheduled after the rains end.

The meeting also addressed that heavy vehicles operating on under‑construction expressways, national highways and railway corridors have caused additional wear. The department is conducting a detailed, multi‑agency survey to label damaged sections and to set department‑wise pothole‑removal goals.

In total, 681 important routes, covering high‑traffic corridors during major celebrations, have been identified for priority attention. Yogi Adityanath consulted officials from the central Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and examined the work plans of market councils, Panchayati Raj, irrigation, rural development, urban planning, housing, and industrial development departments, urging synchronized efforts.

Nine departments manage roughly 4.36 lakh kilometres of roads, with a target to fill potholes on 50,000 kilometres. So far, 5,751 kilometres have been addressed. After the damage survey, each department will lock in targets for renewal (30,000 km) and special repairs (5,000 km). To date, 14,000 km have been renovated and 700 km have undergone special repairs. The chief minister reiterated that roads directly affect daily life, linking schools, hospitals, markets and government offices, and therefore must be given top priority.