Defence minister Rajnath Singh said this week that Rs 13 billion has been sanctioned for a grand makeover of the international airport at Lucknow. “When the airport is ready, people from across the globe would get to visit the state capital easily. This increased footfall of global tourists would lead to more direct and indirect employment,” he said while interacting with people of his Lok Sabha constituency on a three-day visit to Lucknow. The minister also said he had wanted a centre of Chandigarh University to open in Lucknow, but this may not be possible. “Three to four acres of land is required for the purpose and this wasn’t available in Lucknow. That is why now Unnao is being looked at as an alternative venue,” he said. Rajnath travelled by the Lalkuan-Aishbagh overbridge to visit Sudarshan Puri, where he told the people that travel time had drastically reduced since overbridge came up. “So far, seven overbridges have been built in the state capital and more have been proposed. Once the 104-km-long outer Ring Road is ready, it will help decongest roads even more as all those passing through Lucknow from anywhere across the country would be able to head to their destination without entering the state capital,” he said. See also: PM unveils Terminal 2 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International AirportFoundation stone of Bhogapuram International Airport delayed