Lucknow, Mar 15 (IANS): As the Akhilesh Yadav government completed four years on Tuesday, the state officials claimed due to the pro-industry policies, an investment of Rs.25,081.10 crore has been made in last four years.

Principal Secretary (Industrial and Infratsructure Development) Mahesh Gupta informed IANS that this investment has led to establishing of 1,68,219 industries and direct employment of 12,98,188 people and indirect jobs to 2,49,233 people.

According to a recent World Bank study on 'Ease of Doing Business', Uttar Pradesh was ranked first amongst the northern states, he further informed and cited world-class infrastructure facilities like the Lucknowa" Agra Expressway, Lucknow to Ballia Poorvanchal Expressway, Metro rail, Trans-Ganga, Saraswati Hi-tech Cities, Plastic City Auraiya, IT City and Cricket Stadium at Lucknow would further boost growth.

Gupta told that in addition to the industrial projects worth Rs.25,081.10 crore, which have been already implemented, projects with investment of Rs.78,681 crore were in the pipeline.

Opposition parties have, however, questioned the claims while saying all these investments were merely on paper and that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has had a miserable tenure so far.