Lucknow, Feb 20 (Reporter) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that if one lakh villages in Uttar Pradesh are to be connected with cities, electric bus service can become a cheap and popular medium for affordable service. While participating in the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony of Ashok Leyland's electric vehicle factory in Lucknow, the CM said, "There is an extensive network of over 1.05 lakh revenue villages and more than 2 lakh hamlets in UP and electric buses can become an affordable and accessible means of connecting rural areas with cities." Emphasising the significance of expediting production, he said, "Prakashji and Ashokji of Hinduja Group have just handed me the keys of the double-decker electric bus. I urge them to start production at the earliest, not just hand over the keys. The markets of not only UP, but the entire North India, eagerly await your vehicles." Earlier, Yogi was presented with the symbolic key of a double-decker electric bus and a memento by representatives of the Hinduja Group. He conducted an inspection of the electric buses within the facility, familiarising himself with their features. Hinduja Group officials provided detailed information about the e-vehicles functionalities. He also engaged in consultations with key stakeholders and officials of the Hinduja Group. Stating that the first electric vehicle plant of UP is going to be set up through Ashoka Leyland, the CM said, "I extend my congratulations to the Hinduja Group and Ashoka Leyland for spearheading this initiative. In UP we have come up with investor-friendly policies. Similarly, investors will also have to make their investments public-friendly." Highlighting the transformative potential, he said, "We possess a fleet of one lakh school buses, all ripe for replacement with electric counterparts, provided we take proactive steps in this direction." Yogi encouraged both the Hinduja Group and the state government to collaborate on this initiative, emphasising the potential to engage youth and enhance public transportation services. He emphasised the imperative of ensuring connectivity to every village and facilitating transportation between villages and cities within Uttar Pradesh. He proposed the utilisation of small trucks to transport village products to cities, thereby creating opportunities for economic growth. Highlighting the interconnectedness of UP with neighbouring states, the CM said, "UP does not mean UP. It means Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Nepal as well as all are connected with UP in some form or another. All these states will take advantage of this facility." He highlighted the state government's Electric Vehicle Policy, noting the launch of investment projects worth Rs 10.24 lakh crore by the Prime Minister. "Today, Ashoka Leyland has started its work under this. I express confidence that the market of UP is waiting for you. How quickly and rapidly you can proceed with your work will depend on you." Elaborating on the policy, Yogi mentioned the provision of incentives of up to Rs 20 lakh for every electric bus, emphasising its unique appeal to both investors and buyers. He hailed UP's EV policy as one of the nation's best, asserting its benefits for all stakeholders and its alignment with the Prime Minister's goal of achieving net zero emissions. He stressed the importance of this policy as a positive step towards sustainability and economic progress, urging swift action to capitalise on its potential. Hinduja Group President Ashok Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan, Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh, MLA Dr Rajeshwar Singh, Vikas Gupta, Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, UPSIDA CEO Mayur Maheshwari and officials of Hinduja Group were present on the occasion...////...