Lucknow Projects thread

[m_1973]

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...ing-up/460025/



Acceding to the long standing demand of the Informational Technology (IT) industry, Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) has proposed setting up an IT Park in Lucknow.

“The IT Park would be spread over an area of about 25 acres,” LIDA chief executive officer (CEO) Alok Kumar told Business Standard adding the land acquisition process had already been completed.

The IT Park would be located in the vicinity of Lucknow International Airport and National Highway (NH) 25.
LIDA has solicited applications from IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) companies (both public and private) or consortium for reservation/allotment of plots in the Park.

The Authority would allot about 130 plots of varying sizes measuring 375 sq mt, 450 sq mt, 650 sq mt and 800 sq mt at the rate of Rs 4,970/sq mt. The scheme closes on January 14, 2012.

Kumar said the response to the proposed Park had been good ever since the scheme opened on December 15, 2011. “We have already sold about 70 odd application documents, which shows the encouraging response,” he added.

Meanwhile, IT industry expert and former Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Uttar Pradesh State Council chairman Jayant Krishna welcomed the move, but added the government needed to put it on fast track.

“We have long been demanding such an enclave in Lucknow, but things need to move on a war-footing with the proposed IT Park to realise its full potential,” he added.

Earlier, LIDA had hit the roadblock due to issues related to land acquisition putting on quandary its plan to acquire 2,000 acres of land in first phase along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway.

Proposed as a township on the lines of NOIDA, LIDA is aimed at industrial and commercial amelioration in the region. UP government had constituted LIDA vide notification dated July 28, 2005.

Lucknow and Kanpur have immense potential to become IT hubs since they have Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) apart from several reputed institutions in the hinterland.

[sixsigma1978]

Quantity has increased. But quality?

Lucknow gets six more police stations

LUCKNOW: The ever-expanding state capital both in terms of population and residential area finally got much-needed six new police stations on Wednesday. The number of police stations in the city including Mahila police station now has gone up to 43. There has been long-pending demand to increase the number of police stations in the state capital.

With addition of six new police stations, a new circle would also have to be created for better policing, a senior official said and added since maximum number of 12 police stations would be now in trains-Gomti area, a circle would have to come up in this area of the city. When contacted, DIG DK Thakur said that a proposal to create a new circle would be sent to DGP, Uttar Pradesh very soon. However, he was non-committal on the time when the proposal for the new circle would be sent.


The new police stations have been carved out of most developing areas of the city, including Gomtinagar, Ghazipur, Chinhat, Talkatora, Mohanlalganj, Kakori, Hazratganj, Madiaon and Gosainganj police station areas, the DIG told TOI.

Two government orders dated December 21 were approved on Wednesday with immediate effect paving way for the constitution of six new police stations in the city. Each police station had been sanctioned a post of station officer, seven head constables, 15 constables, a driver each and three class IV employees.

Immediately after the creation of the new police stations, the DIG also appointed six news station officers in the said police stations. They include Mohd Zaheer Khan, Parshuram Tripathi, Subhash Chandra, Suresh Chandra Omhare, Atul Kumar Srivastava and Sunil Dutt Kaul.

The DIG directed the station officers to immediately take charge of the new police stations.

While the creation of the five police stations is directly linked to increasing population and residential area under old police stations, creation of Gautampalli is aimed to free the Hazratganj police station from VIP duty so that it could concentrate on policing.

The area of jurisdiction falling under Gautampalli police station would include Chief Minister's residence at Kalidas Marg, Vikramaditya Marg and colonies like Gautampalli and Gulistan which houses VVIPs, bureaucrats and senior journalists.

To recall, DIG DK Thakur had mooted the proposal for six new police stations about six months back.

It was his and a secretary in Home department's continuous pursuance that paved the way for the creation of new police stations in the state capital, said a senior bureaucrat.

Source : Link

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by sixsigma1978

I would admit that votebank politics is existentially a character flaw in all political parties. Usually, I am circumspect when trying to prove a point without any observation - but I do stand firm that the West Bengal Communists are the greatest existential threat to India only because their philosophies - both Internal and External - are out of synch with the context of Greater India. In external - their idiotic and dangerous intentions were laid bare when they suggested that India formulates a policy of China-appeasment at the cost of Western strategic interests -especially when they were out and out revolting against the Indo-US nuclear deal. That pretty much sealed their fate as a party which has absolutely no common sense or sense of National Purpose!!

In the Internal - coming back to the context - my bias is squarely anti-Communists both because of personal and knowledge reasons.
I have a servant who hails from Bagdogra (west Bengal). He very simply puts it that the local communist party leaders - in exchange for vote promises (enforced by thugs) - simply take batches of illegal bangladeshis from slums and settlement zones in West Bengal and borders - and relocate them to villages ALL OVER West Bengal.

He claims that in his town - there are more than a hundred thousand illegals who are slowly pulling their relatives and friends from a completely bankrupt and basket case Bangladesh. This was all commie engineered for 3 decades since the 71 war! The communists have literally cells that take everything from monthly baksheesh to political favors in almost every town and village from these resettled illegals - no one talks about this in the open - they're too scared - both from the Communist thugs and the illegals who brazenly now tout the ration card and the Muslim card!! and this comes from a poor, uneducated servant - grassroots - which simply magnifies the magnitude of the problem the Communists have created.

So too Professionally, Many studies have also been done that explicitly commented on the West Bengal political party nexus in this huge charade - only Mamata seems to have some level of rationality in this as she is quite open in segregating the illegals from Natives.

If I want to place a bet on which is the most seminally destructive party in India when it comes anything related to either security, economics or just plain dumb common sense - It would be the Communists and its human nature to assign blame and to necessarily single out the political rhetoric you mentioned - because unless we do, we're done for!!!

There are a lot of myths promoted around the issue of illegal immigration. Your "servant" should probably contact intelligence agencies and inform them about "such happenings". The commies did have a lot of influence on (illegal) migrants - the majority of whom are Hindus. A majority of these people mostly came with nothing and struggled a lot. They turned into votebanks out of hope, gratitude, false promises or fear (take your pick). But with time, the influence of the commies on the next generations of these families has waned extensively. The newer generations have been born and brought up in a rising/shining, part socialist/part capitalist India. Thus the influence of the commies will continue to decline. But the leftist, socialist trends in West Bengal will not go away anytime soon as people have an anti establishment streak and will always favour parties with pro poor, socialist tendencies. So the commies may be out, but many of their policies will continue under Didi. Anyway this is probably a topic for West Bengal section and probably not the right forum.

[m_1973]

Haj House Complex Lucknow

Architects: AGi Architects SL, Madrid, Spain

Haj House Complex

MEMO

“The first being created by God was light”. (...). The great masterpieces of Islamic architecture, such as the Alhambra, the Iwans and the courtyards of so many Persian mosques and the Taj Mahal, are like crystallisations of light, limpid and lucid, illuminating an illuminated, where the space of Islamic architecture is defined by light.
Light, shadows, shelter, pilgrims, garden, paradise… the concept of the Haj House Complex in Lucknow is hereby, through this proposal, addressed as a cord connectively fastening the stems of some of the main features in Islamic traditional architecture; by trying to be much more than just the sum of different functional requirements housed within “rational” buildings, we wanted to push stronger and farther, in order for those concepts to be tangible in the final scenario. The character of the Haj itself as an iconic perception for Islam is present through these different features in the building that face the city across the river.

[purty_trash]

What's its status? My hunch is that it may be just a vote bank gimmick but it would look pretty when built.

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/11584340.cms

LUCKNOW: The new parking lot in Lalbagh is likely to get operational by next month, much to the relief of commuters who face traffic snarls arising out of the irregularly parked vehicles. The underground facility, which comes up at Jhandiwala Park opposite the head office of Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), will have the capacity to house around 350 four wheelers.

Constructed by UP Nirman Nigam, the facility is expected to be completed by the end of this month. It will then be transferred to the LMC which will run the facility.

The parking lot will have two basements. An official supervising the project said that it is only the fire safety measures that need to be put forth. The official said that a water tank has already been constructed and the pipe lines laid in the basements. "That will be completed within a week," the official said

The parking lot will essentially help scores of visitors at LMC as well as main market in Lalbagh. There have been reports of commuters being harassed by the parking vendors, who often charge exorbitant charges for parking vehicles. Officials said that special arrangements may be done for the shopkeepers in the market by allotting them space for parking their vehicles.

The facility in the market has been receiving less than expected vehicles. That is also true with other such parking projects that have or are likely to come up in the next few months.

Apart than the one opposite LMC head office, Lalbagh will also have another parking lot at Dayanidhan Park which too is nearing its completion. The two together will allow parking of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

[m_1973]

Flight leaves Bangalore at 6am and leaves Lucknow at 9pm

Good news for Lucknow will help in giving boost to IT industry in Lucknow

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12399240.cms


LUCKNOW: After assuming control of India's most populous state, Akhilesh Yadav has embarked on the journey, which his father Mulayam Singh Yadav could not complete due to change in state's political landscape. However, leaving the past behind, the youngest chief minister of UP seems to be focussing on steps, which would help his party to make fresh inroads and at the same time ensure all-round development of the state. TOI takes a look at some of the spots, which would undergo a makeover.

Karpoori Thakur's Memorial: A day after Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav asked his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to get a memorial constructed in the name of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, the Lucknow Development Authority swung into action to identify the spot, where the memorial could be constructed. Officials have identified a park spanning two acres adjacent to an under-constructed Shaheed Path close to Vipul Khand. Interestingly, the park has a strong imprint of Mulayam's bete noire, Mayawati, as the bust of Karpoori Thakur was dedicated to public inaugurated by Mayawati on January 24, 2003 during her previous stint.

However, unlike other memorials, which achieved the status of being 'grand enough' to attract tourists, the said park is a picture of utmost neglect. While the boundary wall is broken at many places, the wall on the back of Karpoori's bust provides a platform for people to express their feelings including abuses and other objectionable messages.

The foundation stone speaks of Karpoori's contributions to socialist movement at length. The two time chief minister of Bihar (once in 1970 and then in 1977), Karpoori Thakur has been the president of Akhil Bhartiya Sanyukt Samajwadi Dal founded in 1969. This was 23 years prior to the birth of Samajwadi Party. Mulayam himself is reported to have told Akhilesh of his experience of being at the Karpoori's house in Bihar. It was nothing but a thatched hut. The so-called park named after him in 2003 too carries the same irony. Locals say that hardly anyone visited this park during the last regime of Mayawati. "Will this really undergo renovation?" asked a surprise local. Sources in LDA, however, said that a proposal to get the place has been prepared and will be sent to the state government soon. "It will be according to the directions of the state government that the map of the project and its estimates will be prepared," said an official.

Jai Prakash Narain International Centre: The Jai Prakash Narain International Centre is proposed to come up near Lucknow Development Authority office in Gomtinagar. However, the site, which was identified for a 'priority project' during Mulayam's stint as a chief minister in 2006, has turned into a dump yard. Heaps of discarded red sand stones, which were once used to beautify Maya's memorials, scatter all over amidst protruding rusted iron beams meant for pillars. Even the foundation stone has gone missing.

The site also has a unit office of Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, which has hardly anything to do with the project, at least as of now. But on Thursday, LDA geared up to clear the mess after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav gave instructions to this effect.

Proposed at a cost of over 20 crore in 2006, the project was supposed to have two auditoriums, a library, an art gallery and a cafeteria. A swimming pool and a tennis court was also proposed at the site until part of the land got incorporated into a lawn close to the CSI building which has residences of bureaucrats. It remains to be seen as how much the state government will spend on the project.

Gomti Riverfront Project: The project was initiated in 2008 under the Integrated Urban Rejuvenation Programme of the department of housing and urban planning. It was to be executed by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC). However, after initial enthusiasm, when the then housing minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui showed his concern for the ailing river by stepping into its filthy waters near Kudiaghat to clear the algae, the project lost its way. Nevertheless, the project still lingers on paper. According to a draft report prepared by the private consultant roped in by the previous Mayawati government, the project involved work throughout the 22-kilometre stretch of river. The focus of the proposed project was to revive the River Gomti through river cleaning water retention & interventions, aimed at enhancing the functional and scenic heritage of the river. Special attention is being laid to ensure reviving and conservation of the inner city fabric in the core city area along the river banks.

The scope of project includes, cleaning of wild vegetations of river bank and water, pitching on the bank of river for protection from erosion, designing pathways, sit outs (kiosks-open/covered with small domed chattris, etc). The project also proposed open spaces for various activities and an amphitheatre for cultural performances. The draft plan also speaks of children's park and a recreational area to include water fountains, light fountains and sculptures. Besides this, general landscaping and organised open spaces for ornamental plantation and general plantation for an organised forest had also been proposed. The ambitious project also proposed a food court, an open air theatre, restaurant, parks and green areas for public recreational use, walkways, amusement park and a water sports park.

Information Technology Park in Lucknow: Conceptualised a decade ago, this is yet another ambitious project which has been revived by UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Lucknow has often been projected as the most favoured IT destination after Noida and Ghaziabad by software companies. However, with the successive state governments dragging their feet, the project has largely been a non-starter. The Mayawati government too chipped in with the project in 2009 by proposing an IT park over an area of 25 acres in Gomtinagar extension. In fact, the department of electronics came up with a draft proposal. However, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) could not provide the space for the project, even as housing projects gained momentum. It was only on December 15 last year that the Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (Lida) initiated the project by identifying 25 acres of land in the vicinity of Lucknow-Kanpur highway close to Amausi airport. Subsequently, Lida invited applications for reservation/allotment of plots for information technology industry and information technology enabled services. Lida had proposed allotment of about 130 plots of varying sizes measuring 375 sq mt, 450 sq mt, 650 sq mt and 800 sq mt at the rate of Rs 4,970/sq mt. The scheme came to a close on January 14, 2012. According to Lida officials, 70 odd applicants have shown their interest. IT experts in Lucknow insist that it has been a long pending demand. "However, now things need to be put on a war footing," said an IT expert.

Flyover between Awadh Hospital and Amausi airport: This happens to be a new project undertaken by the Akhilesh Yadav government. The flyover is proposed to address the traffic snarls that impede smooth movement of traffic on the busy Lucknow-Kanpur national highway.

The area around Awadh hospital near Barabirwa crossing witnesses repeated traffic jams. The crossing often has a surge of heavy vehicles not only from Charbagh and Amausi industrial area but also from VIP road and Hardoi road by pass.

The proposed flyover would not only ease out the congestion, but would also make it easy for commuters to reach Amausi airport which would soon have its international terminal operational. The flyover is estimated to extend over a length of around 4 kilometres between Awadh hospital crossing and the Amausi airport. Once cleared, it will be constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

[m_1973]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lu...-april/929856/

The new integrated passenger terminal building at Chaudhary Charan Singh (Amausi) Airport in Lucknow is likely to be inaugurated in the first week of April.

Its opening, which was earlier scheduled for November 19 last year, was delayed as the Government of India could not decide on the ‘VVIP’ to inaugurate the terminal. Then, the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections came into effect from December 24.

Sources said the opening is scheduled for April first week as Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who will inaugurate the new terminal, is attending the ongoing session of Parliament till March 30.

Airport director Atul Dixit confirmed: “The inauguration is expected in April first week, the final date of programme has yet to be received.”

A Rashtriya Lok Dal leader said, “A list of certain party leaders will be sent to the airport authorities seeking permission for their entry to the terminal building during inauguration.”

Sources said the airport authorities want to be done with the opening of the project before mid-April as the model code of conduct is likely to be enforced following the upcoming local body elections.

Launched in January 2008, the Rs 129 crore project was to be completed by August 2009.

The new terminal building is spread on 20,000 sq metre area. The double-storey building has two main entrances -one each for arrival and departure sections.

The airport authorities have specified the space for immigration international, security check for domestic flight passengers and customs. Other customer services available there include— a reserve lounge, first-aid, child care, coffee bar, smoking zones and toilets. There are four belt conveyors on the ground floor. Three elevators and three escalators have also been installed. Two parking lots of capacity 1,500 vehicles have been developed in front of the building.

“ Most of the works have been completed and the trial run has already been done. Only few works related with immigration are pending as authorities concerned are setting up their server,” said another airport official.

Officials said that after the new terminal become operational, the work on remodeling of the existing terminal would begin. Initially, both international and domestic flights will operate from new terminal building. When the remodeling of the existing building completes, operations of domestic flights will be shifted there.

Contract of the project was awarded to Brahmaputra Infrastructure Limited (JV) in October 2007. But following the delay, Airport Authority of India (AAI) had decided not to award any new project to the firm until it completes Lucknow airport project.

[m_1973]

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12575564.cms

LUCKNOW: State chief secretary Jawed Usmani reviewed the Gomti river front development project on Saturday. The government wants to revive the ailing river by reclaiming its lost banks. The chief secretary said an extra embankment could be made to reclaim the banks of the river.

The target is to reclaim at least 50 hectare of the land. He told the officials to prepare a time-bound plan for the development of 12km stretch of the river.

And before the development work starts, an acclaimed institute would be roped in for a hydrological study of the project. The project will be planned keeping in mind the location of temples and other religious structures on the banks of the river. Usmani also directed officials to seek public opinion so that a better plan can be framed.

Saying that the plan should focus on integrated development, chief secretary directed the officials to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the environment department at the earliest to carry out the plan. Gomti's revival will be planned on the highest priority as the river has lost its sheen.

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12616747.cms


LUCKNOW: Modern swings like wave slide, deluxe turbo and landscaping are set to give a new look to the Lucknow zoo. The biggest gainer seems to be the children, as the new-age children's park would replace the old, rickety swings and an uneven, parched ground.

"Re-doing children's park is a part of the massive zoo renovation," said Renu Singh, zoo director. The Mayawati government had sanctioned Rs 24.72 crore for zoo renovation last year and the place is set for a new look. Some 100 artistic, stainless steel benches along the pavements and bottle palms lining the roads will make the place more attractive. The renovation is being done by Nirman Nigam. The renovation work is on for almost a year now.

Considering that zoo caters to a large section of people for different purposes, the place will be developed to the level of any other state-of-the-art zoo. "Zoo is not only a place for entertainment, where one can see animals, but it's a place of importance for even the wildlife researchers and botanists," said the director.

Besides, lot of morning walkers visit the place for its clean and green environs. Under the renovation plan, zoo will get a new boundary wall, CC pavers, stone cladding, bronze gates, better drinking water facility for visitors, better lawns with new variety of grass and even a new office. The place has already got 1,000 bottle palms and an almost equal number of champa trees, which will be planted in the coming plantation season in June-July.

To highlight its historical connect, the area around Baradari, in zoo premises will also be improved. Besides, emu and macaw will get new enclosures under the renovation plan. The old structures will be dismantled to give way to the new ones like an improved visitors' room.

To add new animals under the exchange programme, zoo authorities have already written to other zoos in the country. Efforts to bring animals like Indian lion, pigtailed macaque, rhinoceros, otters, hoolock gibbon, Niligiri langur, zebra, capuchin monkey, baboon, fox, chinkara, wolf, marmoset monkey and stump-tailed macaque.

Though zoo already has some of these animals, new ones have been asked for to bring in the fresh blood. Indore zoo has reverted back, saying it can give a pair of fox in exchange of Pelican, Golden Pheasant, Silver Pheasant and Painted Stork.

[m_1973]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/le...hzeeb/936857/0

Amidst the routine hustle and bustle of the railway station, the porters, vendors, taxi and auto rickshaw drivers of Lucknow’s Charbagh railway station have suddenly found a novel dimension to their work. They are the newly-discovered ambassadors of etiquette for the guests to the city of nawabs. The tourism department of Uttar Pradesh is training them on tehzeeb, which Lucknow is famed for, and educating them on the history of the city’s monuments, in order to draw tourists. Manoj Singh, secretary, UP tourism department, says, “Taxi drivers and coolies are the first point of interaction for tourists, but are often known for wrong reasons. Training them aims at improving the overall tourism in the state.”

The department plans to train all 250 coolies, 75 vendors, 100 auto rickshaw drivers and 43 taxi drivers registered with the Northern Railways at the Charbagh station. Since the four-day training programme began on March 25, in collaboration with Manyavar Kanshiram Institute of Tourism Management, Lucknow, 120 people have been trained so far, in four batches of 30 each.

The trainees are excited about their newfound importance. “For the first time, someone has thought of training and imparting knowledge to people of humble backgrounds like us,” says Virendra Kumar, a coolie at Charbagh, who has not visited a single monument in Lucknow in his two-and-a-half years of stay in the city but now hopes to “confidently answer passengers’ queries about historical sites” after watching a 15-minute documentary on the city’s heritage.

The classes are held within the station’s premises; the students listen with rapt attention to Manoj Dixit, director of the programme, as he doles out lessons in tehzeeb. In one such class, he begins with teaching them the “simple formula” of winning the guests over with a greeting. “Greet a Gujarati with a ‘Jai Shri Krishna’ and address a Bengali as ‘dada’,” Dixit tells his students, even as he also explains the significance of “aadab”, the traditional Lucknowi way of greeting. He tells them not to overcharge customers, or give them incorrect information about which hotels to check in or which markets to *visit. Anecdotes related to the city’s monuments, such as the two Imambaras, Bhool Bhulaiyan, Roomi Darwaza, Hanuman Mandir are narrated. The class rounds off with Dixit’s “guru mantra”: “People go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, visit Varanasi to witness the beauty of the ghats; but come to Lucknow not to see the monuments, but to witness the way we behave — woh humari tehzeeb dekhne aate hain.”

The programme is aimed at reviving the city’s fading “pehle aap” culture, explains Dixit: “Lucknow’s famed etiquette and laidback lifestyle have been on the wane for years. But visitors still expect to experience a slice of such tehzeeb. We hope to give them that through our trained coolies, vendors and drivers. A big motivator for trainees is to link politeness with increased income. It will preserve our culture, and help them earn more.”

Mohammed Ashraf, a taxi driver at Charbagh for the last eight years, hopes to make more money after the training. “Most tourists want to know about places to visit. If I can provide them authentic information, and behave politely with them, I can probably earn a few extra bucks as tip,” he says. He rounds off in poetic Urdu: “Main ab unki khidmat mein har waqt haazir rahoonga (from now on, I will be at their service at all times).” It seems the tehzeeb lessons are working

[m_1973]

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...t-city/471513/

The one-month-old Akhilesh Yadav government has started to work on its pre-poll promise to promote the information technology (IT) sector in the state, with Uttar Pradesh mulling a 100-acre ‘IT City’ in Lucknow.

The land has been identified on the outskirts of the state capital for the ‘IT City’, which would boast of modern infrastructure.

The massive IT infrastructure would come up on UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) land on the Lucknow-Sultanpur highway.
“It will offer all the facilities to IT companies, including hotels, dedicated power and direct connectivity to the airport,” UP Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) Anil Kumar Gupta told Business Standard.

The proposal is likely to be presented before the state chief secretary later this week.

Meanwhile, the state government had already selected KPMG for drafting the new IT Policy, which is likely to be submitted by April 30.

Later, stakeholders’ consultations would be held for a month, before the IT policy could be finalised. The government wants to develop Lucknow and Agra as IT hubs and boost the IT/IT Enabled Services (ITeS) and electronics sector in the state.

“We will confer with stakeholders and IT industry so that our policy is attuned with modern times, as IT landscape changes fast,” he added. The proposal of the ‘IT City’ is expected to be placed before the state Cabinet for approval by May end.

Gupta informed the land would be cheaper in ‘IT City’ than Lucknow Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) as it was already owned by government.

LIDA had also proposed a 25-acre IT Park in Lucknow, wherein land was to be acquired from farmers. It was proposed near the Lucknow airport.

Earlier, LIDA plans had hit the roadblock due to land acquisition issues putting on quandary its plan to acquire 2,000 acres in the first phase along the Lucknow-Kanpur highway.

In a recent conference of IT companies under the aegis of Association of Knowledge Workers, Lucknow (AKWL) here, Gupta had admitted that IT companies were sceptical of investing in UP due to absence of any significant project taking off other than the National Capital Region (NCR) in recent past.

However, he claimed things were moving very fast under the leadership of dynamic and IT-savvy chief minister and projects would start taking off in another two months’ time.

During 2010-11, the state’s IT exports clocked about Rs 11,000 crore and this year, it is likely to touch Rs 14,000 crore. It is lesser known that UP was once among the country’s top three IT exporters.

[m_1973]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12724665.cms


LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday gave its approval to an Information Technology city in Lucknow. The proposed city will be built on about 100 acres of government land at Gajaria farms on Sultanpur Road in Lucknow.

A nod has also been given to a proposal for an eight-lane Lucknow-Agra highway. The access-controlled greenfield Expressway from Agra to Lucknow will be developed on a public-private-partnership model and reduce travel time between Greater Noida and Lucknow via Agra from to five hours. At present, it takes around 9-10 hours to reach Greater Noida from Lucknow. The travelling between Agra and Lucknow will also get faster. The 365 km distance between the two cities would be reduced to under four hours. The government has appointed UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) as the nodal agency for the proposed project.

"Both the projects have received an in-principal approval of the government," said Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, Anil Kumar Gupta. "For the IT city project, a concept note with inputs from the departments of tourism, IT and Electronics and animal husbandry, which owns the land, will be prepared. We expect to receive the final cabinet sanction for the IT city in six weeks. Cabinet approval for the Lucknow-Agra Expressway is expected by year-end.''The proposal for the greenfield expressway will see a heavy plantation drive, water bodies connecting the nearest canal for facilitating ground water recharge and eco-friendly parks to neutralise air and noise pollution. On Thursday, the IIDC will decide the terms of reference for the preparation of the project's concept note.

"The concept note will be prepared in three months. Then, a consultant will undertake a feasibility report. After conducting the physical survey of the 300 km stretch and obtaining environmental clearances, the proposal will go for cabinet approval. Then construction work can start,'' Gupta told the TOI. The work on the project start rolling before the year-end, reveal sources.

The IT city in Lucknow will be developed to accommodate office and residential spaces, along with a hotel property on the Gajaria farm land. Apart from being directly connected with the Shaheed Path and the airport, the project will also have dedicated power supply to boost.

The government also ordered a revamp of UP's existing IT policy and has hired the services of management consultancy firm KPMG for drafting the state's new IT Policy. The first draft is expected by April end. Before giving the policy a final shape, the government will also meet all stakeholders.

The government expecting no hiccups on the land acquisition because the Gajariya farm lands - nearly 400 acres - belong to the department of animal husbandry. Gupta said: "Since this land already belong to the state government, transferring it for the development of an IT city will be seamless.''

[m_1973]

http://www.bauerlatozastudio.com/por...hyatt-lucknow/

This hotel introduces Hyatt into one of India’s fastest growing cities. Faced with the challenge of accommodating a full-service hotel on a tight site, BauerLatoza Studio has provided a mosaic of richly landscaped terraces for each amenity, which gives the guest the perception that the site is actually larger than it is. The hotel program includes:

180 guest rooms
Specialty restaurant and cafe
Ballroom and meeting facilities
Business center
Spa and fitness facilities


Project Size:
227,000 square feet (21,100 square meters)

[m_1973]

http://emaarmgf.com/gomti_greens/index.asp

Ideally located in Lucknow’s future life-centre.

Next to River Gomti.
Adjacent to notified green area of over 100 acres.

Located in Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow’s new development hub.

Connected by 24 m and 45 m roads through Amar Shaheed Path.

Located opposite proposed International Cricket Stadium cum Sports Complex spread over 137 Acres.

Proposed Sports Complex will have facilities for Badminton, Basketball, Volley Ball, Lawn Tennis,
Shooting and Olympic Size Swimming Pool.

Proposed Children’s Hospital in the vicinity.

Opposite proposed world-class convention centre
to be developed on an approx. area of 18 Acres.

Future Development Zone of the city.

Close to proposed Police Headquarters, dance academy,
institutions and public facilities as identified by LDA.

[hobbes100]

Originally Posted by m_1973

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12616747.cms


LUCKNOW: Modern swings like wave slide, deluxe turbo and landscaping are set to give a new look to the Lucknow zoo. The biggest gainer seems to be the children, as the new-age children's park would replace the old, rickety swings and an uneven, parched ground.

Good to see this! I have such fond memories of Lko zoo from my childhood. I used to go there often, whenever I went to Lko to visit my grandmother. It was a pretty good zoo in the 80s, but probably has not seen much improvement in a long time (haven't visited it in years, so not sure).

Also good to see the new govt making all the right moves on infra and development. But remains to be seen if they can follow through and actually get things done.

[m_1973]

Last govt was in total restoration mood and most of govt buildings and other str were given facelift and can confidently say that Lucknow looks to be one of best cities in India. Still lot of work has to be done and I am hoping new govt keeps the momentum going. Besides Lucknow new govt must pick atleast 2-3 new cities and work on them for future growth.

Akhilesh has made right kind of noise and he must work hard to bring in IT/ITES/BioTech and other industries in Lucknow as Lucknow now is ready to easily absorbe 100,000 to 200,000 professional over 5 to 10 years. Quality infra is in place, minimum of 10,000 acres is under construction for modern housing, we will get 5-6new 5 star hotels and other necessary infra (sports, culture) in 5 years time. With two IT park of 25 and 100 acres from govt and 3 parks from ansal Lucknow easily can host 50,000 professionals in next 2-3 years.

Originally Posted by hobbes100

Good to see this! I have such fond memories of Lko zoo from my childhood. I used to go there often, whenever I went to Lko to visit my grandmother. It was a pretty good zoo in the 80s, but probably has not seen much improvement in a long time (haven't visited it in years, so not sure).

Also good to see the new govt making all the right moves on infra and development. But remains to be seen if they can follow through and actually get things done.

[m_1973]

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...ucknow/472277/


Taking forward its agenda of promoting Lucknow as a major industrial hub, Uttar Pradesh has planned a Mega Food Park spread over 100 acres in the state capital.

The land is available with the government and the project cost is estimated at over Rs 150 crore.

This would be the third major project planned in Lucknow after two IT enclaves, namely ‘IT City’ and ‘IT Park’ spread over 100 acres and 25 acres respectively.

UP Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) Anil Kumar Gupta said 50-60 companies had already applied for setting up units at the proposed Mega Food Park.

The project would be set up under the union food processing ministry scheme, wherein the central government would provide incentive.

“This matter had been caught in some legal and bureaucratic issues, which we are confident will be resolved by month end,” Gupta informed at an interactive session with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He informed the state government had urged the Centre to allow for second lease by the UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) for the food processing infrastructure.

Industry had long been demanding setting up of food parks in UP for increasing farm income and adding value to agricultural produce. The state has a huge potential of food processing and exports due to high production in both foodgrains and horticulture, including potato, sugarcane, wheat, rice and vegetables.

Mega Food Parks could be established for any segment such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat/poultry and wine or it could combine different segments.

Such units would provide backward and forward linkages covering the entire food processing value chain and implement best practices in post harvest management.

According to an official estimate, India would need an investment of almost Rs 1,00,000 crore in food processing to raise its percentage to 25 per cent of the total agricultural produce annually.

Experts believe that the 2nd Green Revolution will not be successful unless the imperatives of post harvest management and value addition mechanism in agriculture were adopted.

The percentage of food processing industry is as high as 80-85 per cent in developed economies vis-à-vis under 10 per cent in India. Even Thailand and Philippines had benefited much due to their robust food processing infrastructure.

Northern states in general have been lax in encouraging investment in food processing industry. The previous Mayawati regime in UP had also not actively sought any central aid in boosting food processing.