By Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for supporting and accelerating development work in Lucknow, saying close coordination between the Centre and the state has helped the city move ahead at a faster pace.
Speaking at an event in Lucknow Cantonment, Singh said Adityanath had provided “wholehearted support” to development initiatives and regularly monitored their progress. The Defence Minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for 12 development projects worth around ₹101 crore in the cantonment area.
Rajnath highlights Centre-state coordination
Singh said development gains become more visible when the Centre and state governments work with a shared vision.
“When the thinking of the Centre and the state government moves in the same direction, the pace of development naturally increases manifold,” he said.
He added that Uttar Pradesh would continue to set new standards in development and good governance, while the country was moving towards the broader goal of Viksit Bharat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Development is more than infrastructure, says Rajnath
The Defence Minister, however, stressed that the idea of a developed India should not be measured only by large infrastructure projects, modern buildings or physical expansion.
He also referred to changing construction requirements in cantonment areas and said regulations must keep pace with the evolving needs of cities.
Singh said the permissible building height in Lucknow and other cantonment areas had been increased from three floors to five floors under the revised system. The change, he said, would create more scope for construction and redevelopment in these areas.
Yogi credits Rajnath for Lucknow projects
Adityanath, in turn, highlighted the contribution of Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh to the city’s development and linked several ongoing projects to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision for Lucknow.
He pointed to the contrast between the city’s traditional narrow lanes and newer infrastructure projects such as CM GRIDS smart roads and the Kisan Path outer ring road, saying both represent different phases of Lucknow’s transformation.
UP’s role in India’s defence preparedness
Yogi also highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s longstanding contribution to India’s armed forces.
He said the state has traditionally played an important role in military service and recalled that the tradition of military education had received an early push in Uttar Pradesh under Dr Sampurnanand.
The Chief Minister said Sainik Schools in the state continue to prepare young students for future responsibilities, including serving the country’s security needs.
The remarks by the two leaders underlined the focus on infrastructure, urban redevelopment and governance in Lucknow, while also highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s broader role in India’s development and defence ecosystem.
