The sixth edition of TOI Dialogues – turned the spotlight on how New Uttar Pradesh is evolving into a more liveable, mobile and culturally vibrant state, with panellists emphasising the transformative power of infrastructure on daily life, opportunities and identity.Titled “Life, Travel, and Play: The Real Impact of Infrastructure in New Uttar Pradesh”, the discussion was moderated by Prasad Sanyal, Business Head, TimesofIndia.com, and brought together actor-entrepreneur Gul Panag, former Indian cricketer RP Singh, and author Akshat Gupta.Gul Panag underlined the direct link between infrastructure and empowerment, especially for women. “Structure is empowerment. I’ve seen firsthand how improved roads, better public transport has unlocked opportunity for women. When infrastructure is built with a people-first mindset, you can see its impact across society… 50% of the country’s human resource and the state’s human resource is now being able to contribute equally to the ecosystem,” she said, adding that this shift is vital for economic and social development.RP Singh reflected on the role of the state government in nurturing sporting talent. “The UP government has played a very big role in my growth. In 1975, Sports College was opened… in cricket in 2004-05, me and (Suresh) Raina represented the country after 30 years. One has to have a little patience. But even now, I think there are some areas where we can do better infrastructure-wise for our sports,” he remarked.Akshat Gupta spoke about the state’s unmatched cultural and religious tourism potential. “Uttar Pradesh in itself is the centre of India and if both Rama and Krishna are here, then think where we can reach in religious tourism with good infrastructure, which we are reaching,” he said.The TOI Dialogues – Infrastructure Chapter, held in Lucknow on August 7, brought together policymakers, industry leaders and changemakers to explore urban development, smart mobility, cultural revival and sustainable growth in Uttar Pradesh. Organisers said the aim was to “spark meaningful conversations” about the state’s infrastructure journey, which is now seen as a driver of opportunity, connectivity and cultural pride.
