The Uttar Pradesh government has transferred the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) from the industries department to the infrastructure development department, a portfolio held by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The notification was issued recently, marking a significant administrative reshuffle.
Rationale Behind the Move
Officials stated that the change aims to streamline the distribution of work between the infrastructure and industrial development departments. Additional Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, who oversees both infrastructure and industrial development, explained that the infrastructure development department has always functioned as a separate entity with a dedicated section. However, an overlap had emerged between the infrastructure development wing and the section in the industrial development department handling UPEIDA.
"There was duplication in the nature of work being handled by the two sections. The reshuffle is aimed at removing this overlap and ensuring greater administrative efficiency," Kumar said.
Impact on File Processing
Sources familiar with the development revealed that until now, files related to UPEIDA's projects, approvals, and budget sanctions were routed through the industries minister. Moving forward, such proposals and files will be processed through the Chief Minister's Office, ensuring direct oversight.
Background of UPEIDA
UPEIDA was constituted in December 2007 by the industrial development department with the objective of developing expressways and promoting industrial growth along access-controlled high-speed corridors. Over the years, however, the authority's primary role has increasingly centered on creating large-scale infrastructure.
"The core objective of UPEIDA is infrastructure creation, which subsequently facilitates industrial development. The recent restructuring aligns the authority's administrative control with its principal function," said a senior official.
Official Order
Acting on a proposal submitted by the industries department, the secretariat administration department issued an order transferring UPEIDA to the infrastructure development department. The order noted that since the authority's core activity is the development of infrastructure facilities, it would be more appropriately placed under the department specifically tasked with infrastructure development rather than industrial development.
This move is expected to enhance administrative efficiency and reduce duplication of work, ultimately benefiting the development of expressways and related infrastructure in the state.
