Uttar Pradesh Politics & Governance

UPSRTC raises honorarium for contract drivers and conductors

1 January 2026

The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation implemented higher kilometre-based honorarium rates for contract drivers and conductors from 1 January. Under the revised scheme, the rate rose from ₹2.18 to ₹2.28 per kilometre, while the monthly general incentive increased from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000.

Eligible drivers also qualify for monthly loyalty incentives of ₹750 after 10 years of service and ₹1,500 after 20 years, subject to the scheme’s criteria.

Key Facts

• UPSRTC’s mandate includes providing residents with adequate, economical and efficiently coordinated road transport.

LDA launches Fastpass building-plan approval system

1 January 2026

The Lucknow Development Authority introduced its online Fastpass system for building-plan approvals under the new building bye-laws. Eligible property owners can submit plans through the state map portal and self-certify required details; the system checks applications against prescribed standards and can issue an approval certificate within minutes.

Fastpass covers residential plots up to 100 square metres and commercial buildings up to 30 square metres. Applications must include land-use compliance and details such as location, building height, coverage, setbacks, access and parking.

Key Facts

• After submission, Fastpass automatically checks building plans against prescribed standards.

Uttar Pradesh approves digital X-ray machines for 64 CHCs

1 January 2026

Uttar Pradesh approved administrative and financial expenditure for digital X-ray machines at 64 community health centres, with the decision announced by Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak. Lucknow is to receive machines at 16 centres, the largest district allocation.

The planned installations also include four centres each in Azamgarh, Etawah, Mau and Sultanpur, among other districts. The approval is intended to expand access to X-ray services closer to residents in rural and town areas.

Greater Noida applies cleaner-fuel rules to aggregator vehicles

1 January 2026

Cleaner-fuel rules for gig-worker and aggregator vehicles took effect in Greater Noida on 1 January. The Regional Transport Officer said petrol vehicles other than bikes could no longer be used for gig services, including passenger transport and delivery; covered vehicles must run on CNG or electricity. The rules include services such as Ola, Uber, Zomato and Swiggy, with enforcement action planned for violations.

Key Facts

• Compressed natural gas is an alternative vehicle fuel whose combustion produces lower emissions of several pollutants than petrol or diesel.
• Electric vehicles can reduce tailpipe air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels, although their overall emissions depend partly on how their electricity is generated.

LDA identifies land for Lucknow Metro corridor facilities

2 January 2026

The Lucknow Development Authority identified land for facilities planned for the Lucknow Metro’s east–west corridor. The proposed temporary casting yard would use six hectares in Basant Kunj Sector K and a 6.5-acre temporary parking site in Prabandh Nagar, subject to agreement and transfer.

About 18 hectares in the southern part of Basant Kunj Sector A was also identified for a metro depot. The proposal would relocate the Dubagga fish market to an equal area in the proposed Varun Vihar scheme near the Agra Expressway.

Key Facts

• The East–West Blue Line is Phase 1B, planned to connect Charbagh with Vasant Kunj.

Uttar Pradesh directs DBT linkage through Family IDs

2 January 2026

Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Secretary directed departments to link all beneficiaries of Direct Benefit Transfer schemes with the Family ID database and integrate other schemes and services with it. Departments were also asked to coordinate with Union ministries to obtain data on state beneficiaries of central schemes for integration.

A Family e-Passbook was presented at the meeting. It is intended to let families view the schemes and services they receive and find other schemes for which they may be eligible.

Key Facts

• Uttar Pradesh’s 12-digit Family ID records household details to help identify duplicate or improper claims and link eligible families to welfare schemes.

Cargo-terminal applications advance under Uttar Pradesh logistics policy

2 January 2026

Under Uttar Pradesh’s 2022 Warehousing and Logistics Policy, three companies had applied to establish cargo terminals at 15 locations. The Transport Department completed the Letter of Comfort process for a Moradabad project and reported that the process for a Hapur project was also complete.

One company submitted 15 applications across 13 districts. The department said ...