Expressways, Airports, Land Bank: CM Yogi Says UP Is Now India’s Leading Investment Destination

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the state has transformed into one of India's most attractive destinations for industrial investment, as he launched the Nivesh Mitra 3.0 portal.

Showcasing the government's development push, the Chief Minister said the vision his administration had set nearly nine years ago is now becoming a reality, backed by improved law and order, a major infrastructure buildout, and stronger support for investors.

Dream Seen Nine Years Ago Is Now Becoming Reality

Addressing the launch event, CM Yogi said Uttar Pradesh is no longer known only as the country's food basket, but has now emerged as a leading destination for industrial growth and investment. He said the transformation reflects the progress made over the past several years in governance, connectivity, and business facilitation.

According to him, the state's current investment environment is the result of long-term planning that began nearly a decade ago. He said the changes are now visible on the ground, with more industries coming in and investor confidence rising steadily.

CM Yogi Says UP Moved From 'Identity Crisis' To Investor Confidence

Recalling the state's earlier image, Yogi Adityanath said, "Earlier, whenever we spoke about investment, investors would burst into laughter. The state was facing an identity crisis. Mafias, acting as henchmen of political leaders, were running a parallel government, and no one was safe."

He said the state government changed that image by taking a tough stand on crime and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against mafias and criminals. Reiterating that stance, he added, "Today, no matter who the criminal is, if he dares to challenge the law, his ticket to Yamaraj's house gets booked."

The Chief Minister said a strong law-and-order framework has played a major role in improving investor sentiment and creating a safer environment for businesses to operate in Uttar Pradesh.

Expressways, Airports And 75,000-Acre Land Bank Drive UP's Investment Pitch

Highlighting the infrastructure push, CM Yogi said Uttar Pradesh has seen dramatic growth in connectivity since 2017. He said that before his government came to power, the state had only "one-and-a-half expressways", but today Uttar Pradesh accounts for 55 per cent of the country's total expressway network. He added that this figure will rise to 60 per cent once the Ganga Expressway is inaugurated.

Speaking about aviation infrastructure, he said, "Earlier, Uttar Pradesh had only two-and-a-half operational airports. Apart from Varanasi and Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Agra had airports only in name, with flights landing there occasionally. Today, we have 16 domestic and 4 international airports, and Asia's largest airport at Jewar will begin operations soon."

The Chief Minister also said land availability has become a major advantage for the state's industrial expansion. According to him, Uttar Pradesh currently has a 75,000-acre land bank ready for investment projects.

At the event, the government issued Letters of Comfort (LoC) to 85 companies and distributed more than Rs 2,781 crore in incentives to promote industrial investment. Comparing this with previous administrations, he said earlier governments issued only 16 LoCs in five years, while his government has so far issued 3,367 LoCs.

'Even At Midnight, I Call Officials To Protect Entrepreneurs'

CM Yogi also assured industrialists that the government remains alert to protect businesses from interference or intimidation. Stressing the administration's direct involvement, he said, "Even if I get information at 12 in the night that some henchman is creating obstacles in an industry, I immediately call the DM and SP, wake them up, and instruct them to drive such elements out of the state's borders."

He said this hands-on approach is meant to ensure that entrepreneurs can run industries without fear and with full administrative support.

Investment Spreading Beyond NCR To Bundelkhand And Gorakhpur

The Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh's investment story is no longer limited to the NCR region. He highlighted that industrial activity is now reaching regions such as Bundelkhand and Gorakhpur, signalling a broader and more balanced spread of development across the state.

He said every entrepreneur who invests in the state supports the livelihoods of hundreds of families through job creation. Yogi also noted that Uttar Pradesh now operates Metro services in seven cities and is rapidly expanding in the IT sector, reflecting a more diversified economic base.

With the launch of Nivesh Mitra 3.0, the Uttar Pradesh government is seeking to further strengthen the state's image as a business-friendly destination, combining improved security, faster clearances, stronger infrastructure, and direct policy support to attract more investors.