Political adversaries notwithstanding, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today gifted a Metro Rail project in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chairing a state cabinet meeting here, Yadav cleared the proposal of Metro Rail projects in Varanasi, Kanpur City, Agra and Meerut to boost urban mass transport infrastructure in these centres.

Lucknow Metro Rail project has already gathered steam with the actual ground work commencing on October 27.

'Metro Man' E Sreedharan is the principal advisor to the Lucknow Metro project. Lucknow Metro is proposed in two North-South (NS) and East-West corridors. The proposed 23 km NS corridor, which would connect Lucknow airport to the city, is being undertaken in first phase and is estimated to cost over Rs 7,000 crore.

Meanwhile, the respective feasibility report/detailed project report (DRP) for the proposed metro rail services would be prepared in due course.

The cabinet decided if the Centre does not contribute 50 percent of funds required for the metro rail projects in these cities under the metro rail policy despite the state nominating RITES to prepare DPRs, the respective development authorities would fund the project entirely out of its own resources.

Hitherto known as Rail India Technical and Economic Service, RITES is a central government enterprise, which undertakes feasibility studies, integrated design services, institutional management and technical support for new railway projects.

Earlier, UP was mulling selecting consultant for preparing the DPR/feasibility report under an open competitive bidding process.

Talking to media after the cabinet meeting, Yadav stressed his government was working towards speedier development of the state. "Some projects consume more time in their planning and execution. But, now we have launched all our major infrastructure projects."

He noted modern public transport systems would spur growth in smaller cities of the state. Yadav also unveiled a prototype of the proposed Lucknow Metro Rail coach.

The cabinet also approved UP Biotech Policy 2014 considering the current and future requirements and economic development.