Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that Uttar Pradesh is set to become the first state in the country to establish 18 ‘safe cities,’ ensuring a secure and progressive environment for all residents. During a review meeting, Adityanath emphasized that all 17 Municipal Corporations and Gautam Budh Nagar should be developed as ‘Safe Cities’ in the initial phase within the next three months, with financial arrangements coordinated through inter-departmental collaboration.
In subsequent phases, the project will expand to include the municipalities of 57 district headquarters and then encompass 143 municipalities. To distinguish these cities, special branding will be implemented by installing ‘Safe City’ signboards at their entrances. With this initiative, Uttar Pradesh aims to become the state with the highest number of safe cities in the country, a remarkable achievement, according to the Chief Minister.
Adityanath also highlighted the expansion of the project’s scope to encompass the safety of not only women but also the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities. During the review of the action plan, he issued instructions regarding the development of all cities involved in the project. The state government remains committed to fostering a conducive environment for the safety and growth of every citizen, and the progress made over the past six years has yielded promising outcomes.
The Chief Minister expressed that the state has succeeded in instilling a sense of security among women and businessmen, ensuring their safety. However, to maintain this belief, constant vigilance is required. The Safe City Project has proven to be invaluable in promoting women’s safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Under the Lucknow Police Commissionerate, the project has implemented modern control rooms, pink police booths, Asha Jyoti Kendras, CCTV cameras, help desks with counsellors in women’s police stations, panic buttons in buses, and other security measures.
While the project presently focuses on women’s safety, Adityanath urged for its expansion to include the safety of the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities. By doing so, the Safe City initiative will provide the necessary impetus to create a secure, protected, and empowered environment for women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities in public spaces.
Furthermore, Adityanath emphasized the need for the Social Welfare Department and the Urban Development Department to collaborate on the systematic rehabilitation of mentally unstable individuals or those engaged in begging. Ensuring the concept of a Safe City requires the verification of public transport vehicle drivers, including taxi drivers, e-rickshaw drivers, auto-rickshaw drivers, and tempo drivers. Adityanath emphasized the importance of thorough police verification for these drivers to maintain the integrity of the Safe City concept.
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