LUCKNOW, March 14 -- Praising Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for acting against criminal elements in the state, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said a bulldozer is not merely for demolition, it also paves the way for development. "People know Yogi ji as Bulldozer Baba. He has brought the mafia to heel," Singh said while addressing an event in Lucknow for the inauguration of the first two phases of the 28-km Green Corridor project. The project is estimated to have cost about Rs.1,519 crore. On the occasion, he also laid the foundation stone of the third and fourth phases. Addressing the gathering at Jhulelal Vatika, Singh said Uttar Pradesh was undergoing rapid transformation. "The state has emerged as a growth engine of the country under the leadership of the chief minister," he said. Referring to key infrastructure projects, Singh said the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway is expected to become operational by the end of March or early April. Once functional, travel between the two cities will take around 35 to 40 minutes, he said, calling it a major step in improving regional connectivity. Singh said Lucknow was also making strides in the defence and technology sectors. "Today Lucknow is rapidly emerging as the identity of a modern city of New India. The capital of any state should ensure convenience for citizens and smooth connectivity. With this objective, modern infrastructure and transport networks are being developed rapidly here," he said. Singh added that testing and integration facilities related to the BrahMos missile system will also be established in Lucknow as part of efforts to strengthen national security infrastructure. Highlighting environmental considerations in infrastructure development, Singh said more than 150 trees that fell along the alignment of the Green Corridor were not cut but translocated during construction. Speaking about Lucknow's evolving profile, Singh said the city's culture as well as its development are now being discussed internationally. Visitors of Indian origin living abroad, he said, often express surprise at the pace of change when they return to the city. On the occasion, Singh also announced new road projects, including a proposed 100-km Barabanki-Bahraich road and a corridor connecting Lucknow, Sultanpur and Varanasi....