The public works department (PWD) has filed a comprehensive annual work plan for the development of highways and district roads in Uttar Pradesh to streamline execution and ensure the timely completion of development projects. Projects were previously taken on a piecemeal basis, according to Gokarna, resulting in a lack of clarity. The annual work plan for fiscal year 2021 which we have proposed, would make things clearer and speed up the development of roads and highways. After the Covid-19 second wave began to flatten, PWD decided on an annual work plan, according to sources. The government's decision to speed up road infrastructure development comes after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for the completion of several expressways, including the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand expressways, as soon as possible. The government has also accelerated land acquisition for the 594 km Ganga expressway, which is titled as the country's longest expressway project. According to experts, the development of district roads and highways is at the heart of any government's development agenda because the state of roads determines a ruling party's political fortunes. As per sources, the department has been grappling with the issue of timely funding approval for projects. At least eight districts – Lakhimpur Kheri, Kannauj, Ghazipur, Basti, Firozabad, Barabanki, Mathura, and Bahraich – have set aside funds for widening and strengthening state highways. In the first phase, it is estimated that the work will cost around Rs 80 crore. In addition, the department has proposed the construction of major roads in over 20 districts. Image Source Also read: Maha PWD breaks NHAI record by constructing 25.5 km road in 14 hours Also read: NHAI plans Rs 1,417 cr investment for highway development in Punjab