UP Cabinet’s 24 Major Decisions: Lifetime Free Bus Travel for Women Aged 60+, Ganga Expressway to Be Extended to Haridwar
Lucknow, August 25, 2026: In a Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 24 out of 27 proposals were approved. The meeting saw several important decisions related to women, students, medical interns, senior citizens, transport, industrial development, and expressways.
Women Above 60 to Get Lifetime Free Bus Travel
The biggest decision taken by the Cabinet is lifetime free travel on roadways buses for women above the age of 60. The ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Matri Shakti Yojana’ has been approved for this purpose.
Eligible women will be able to travel free of charge on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses. They will have to show an Aadhaar card or voter ID as proof of age. According to government estimates, around 81 lakh to more than one crore women could benefit from the scheme. The estimated expenditure on the scheme is around ₹22.50 crore per month. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may formally launch the scheme on Wednesday.
Free Bus Travel for Women During Raksha Bandhan
Women will also get a separate free-travel facility on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. From 6:00 AM on August 27 to midnight on August 29, women will be allowed to travel free of cost on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses.
Purchase of 250 Electric Buses
The Cabinet has also approved the purchase of 250 new electric buses for the state’s transport corporation. These will include buses with 42 and 52 seats. Approximately ₹425 crore will be spent on the project. The move is expected to modernize public transportation and help reduce pollution.
MBBS Interns’ Stipend Increased
The Cabinet has taken an important decision for medical students by approving an increase in the monthly stipend of MBBS interns from ₹12,000 to ₹25,000. Medical interns had been demanding an increase in their stipend for a long time.
3.57 Lakh Students to Get Another Opportunity for Scholarships
Students who were unable to receive scholarships during the 2025–26 academic year will be given another opportunity to apply. Around 3.57 lakh students from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC and minority communities are expected to benefit. Approximately ₹551.95 crore will be spent for this purpose.
Ganga Expressway to Be Extended to Haridwar
The Cabinet has also approved the proposal to extend the Ganga Expressway from Bijnor to Haridwar. The project is estimated to cost around ₹10,761 crore. Approximately 100 kilometres of the extension will fall in Uttar Pradesh and around 30 kilometres in Uttarakhand. An MoU will be signed with the Uttarakhand government for the project.
Industrial Cluster in Sultanpur
The Cabinet has approved the development of an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster (IMLC) near the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur. The project is estimated to cost around ₹272.25 crore. The government’s objective is to attract investment and create employment opportunities in the region.
Action Against Those Who Fail to Care for Elderly Parents
The Cabinet has also decided to strengthen arrangements related to the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens. The new provisions are aimed at making action easier in cases where children fail to take care of their elderly parents. Provisions will also be made to strengthen the process of evicting such individuals from their parents’ property and to establish a toll-free complaint facility.
JPNIC to Be Leased for 30 Years
The Cabinet has also taken a decision regarding the operation of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Convention Centre (JPNIC) in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.
The centre has been approved to be leased for 30 years to Vrindavan Bottlers Private Limited and Rockwood Hotel and Resort Private Limited. The companies will also undertake the necessary repair and maintenance work.
Impact of the Government’s Decisions
Among the Cabinet’s decisions, the provision of lifetime free bus travel for women above 60 is expected to directly benefit a large section of the population. The increase in scholarships and the MBBS internship stipend is expected to provide relief in the education and medical sectors.
At the same time, the extension of the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar and the proposed industrial cluster in Sultanpur are expected to strengthen connectivity, investment and employment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh.
Note: Recent reports have provided details of several major decisions among the 24 proposals approved by the Cabinet. The complete department-wise official list of all 24 proposals does not yet appear to have been fully published in the available sources. Therefore, the report above includes only those decisions that have been confirmed by recent reports.