Indian Express 14.12.2009
LDA’s new venture: On Gomti bank, park worth Rs 102 crore
Work in progress at the Gomti riverbank in Lucknow
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has started developing a park on a 39-acre plot of land along the Gomti river near Gandhi Setu. Being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 102 crore, the park is expected to be ready by March 2010.
To come up on both sides of the road leading to the Gandhi Setu, the park will have two parts: the larger section will be spread over 32 acres of land between Gandhi Setu and La Martinere College, while another seven-acre portion will be spread between the road (leading to Gandhi Setu) and the eight-lane bridge on the river.
LDA vice-chairman Mukesh Kumar Meshram said that in addition to walking tracks, a green area, parking lot and cafeteria, the park will also have a baradari for cultural programme. “No political event or weddings will be allowed at the Baradari, it will be used only for short cultural programmes,” Meshram said.
Delhi-based company Design Associates has been appointed as consultant for designing the park.
The LDA has started levelling the area on both sides of Gandhi Setu. RCC pillars are being erected from the river level in the entire area to prevent dislocation of soil in the future.
The park’s entrance gate will be similar in shape and size to the Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal Dwar developed on the Gandhi Setu. With a height of 11 metres and a dome of 14-metre diameter atop, the gate will cost around Rs 8 crore.
A ‘retaining wall’ is being developed towards Jiamau locality to strengthen the levelled area. Along this wall, a four-lane road would be constructed inside the park.
For the residents of Jiamau locality, the Public Works Department (PWD) will develop another nine-metre wide road on the other side of the retaining wall.
Lying unused for the past some time, the land is being used by the LDA with permission from the Irrigation department.
