Lucknow, March 28 (IANS) Maintenance and upgradation of highways in Uttar Pradesh will now be given to private companies, the state government announced Monday.

"Proper upkeep and upgradation of state highways could not be ensured for a variety of reasons. The state cabinet has therefore resolved to entrust this task to the private sector with effect from the coming financial year starting April 1," Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here.

"The cost of maintaining and upgrading the state's 21 highways (running into 2,314 km) was estimated at about Rs.12,600 crore, which would be realized by the concerned organization through a special toll at each of the highways," he said.

Among the highways to be taken up under the new scheme ware Delhi-Saharanpur-Yamunoutri route, Varanasi-Shaktinagar, Bariellly-Almora-Bageshwar,Akbarpur-Jaunpur-Mirzapur, Pallia-Shahjahanpur-Hardoi-Lucknow, Meerut-Karnal and others.

"The upgradation and maintenance would not be limited to simple widening or repairs, but would also include construction of fly-overs and rail-overhead bridges, besides development of service lanes, public toilets as well as drainage and other necessary services," the cabinet secretary pointed out.