Uttar Pradesh, the largest state by population in India, has been labelled as one among the BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) states for a long time. Infamous for the lack of infrastructure that kept industries away from the state for decades, there is a new pitch by the incumbent government that seeks to change the image of the state. In an interview with Outlook Business, Mayur Maheshwari, the CEO of UP State Industrial Development Authority, makes a strong pitch for development and suggests that the state is set to become the first choice of investors in the coming years. Excerpts: