Akhilesh tries to do a Modi

Twenty-one companies on Thursday signed pacts with the Uttar Pradesh government with some promising to expand existing businesses and others pledging to start them in the state.
The pacts worth Rs.54,606 cr were signed on the sidelines of the state government’s Investors Conclave here.
The companies remained bullish about investing in western districts of Noida and Greater Noida despite the government’s emphasis on bridging regional disparities and bringing investment to other parts.
Samsung announced expansion of its business in Noida, while chief secretary Alok Ranjan said Nasscom would shift its headquarters there. Rajan said Infosys has acquired land in the district as well.
Amity group chairman emeritus Ashok Chauhan said the group will spend Rs.2,000 crore to set up a medical university in Greater Noida.
The Fortis group promised an investment of Rs.800 crore on a 250-bed super specialty hospital in Greater Noida. River Engineering Private Limited promised 330 crore investment in air taxi services ­ Vayu Mitra ­ in Noida. Ultra Fairwood, an aviation consultant and subsidiary of the UK-based Ultra group, signed MoU for setting up a rapid transport system in Noida. Yashoda Hospital and Research Centre Ltd, Ghaziabad, signed MOU for for setting up a medical city and hospitals in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Hapur. scheduled to participate in, where diplomats, embassy representatives and dignitaries invited to the event waited for him.
Once the chief minister went into a huddle with industry representatives who signed the MoUs, senior government functionaries representing different departments were left unsure about their role in the event.
Several investors, too, without specific time slots for meetings with departmental heads, were left unattended and unsure about who to meet and when. Ambassadors of The Netherlands and Turkey, both of who were present for the event, also ended up leaving without a meeting with Akhilesh.
There were, however, helpful sessions as well, where departmental heads met with industry persons to address queries and respond to concerns raised by prospective and existing inves tors. Several investors also acknowledged that while they were bullish about investing in UP and expanding their footprints in the state, they were hopeful that they would get the state government support for good infrastructure and law and order.