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Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the UPA Government has taken concrete steps to provide education facilities to maximum people. "The society and the country will progress only when maximum people get educated. Education is the key to a bright future," Sonia said in her address after laying the foundation stone for widening of the Lucknow-Rae Bareli road and other projects. "Approval has been given for one model school in every block and 75 per cent of the cost is being given by the UPA government. In Uttar Pradesh money has been provided for 148 schools," she added. Sonia said that the Human Resource Development Ministry has taken an initiative to set up a degree college Rae Bareli. "State government has also shown positive stand in giving land. As soon as land is provided necessary steps would be taken immediately and the college will be named after Indira Gandhi," she said. On road-links, Gandhi further said: "Work on widening Rae Bareli-Allahabad road would be started soon at a cost of Rs 300 crore. "The UPA government has given approval for national highway projects at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore," she said. "This is my request to Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi that all these projects should be completed at the earliest and in a time-bound manner with quality so that people could benefit during Kumbh to be organised in Allahabad next year," she added. This is the first visit of Sonia Gandhi to Rae Bareli after the Congress received a drubbing in the state assembly elections. She expressed her anguish for not being able to come here earlier due to 'some personal reasons'. Sonia said that she was feeling good after meeting people of Rae Bareli after a long time. "I am sorry that I could come here earlier due to some personal reasons," she said. During her two-day visit, Gandhi is expected to hold meetings with party workers to review the performance of the party. She will also attend a Roza Iftaar organised by the Congress workers.

Sonia Gandhi visits Rae Bareli, talks of positive steps taken by Government