Akhilesh wants 'London Eye' in Lucknow

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav wants Lucknow to have a giant wheel like the London Eye on the banks of the Thames river, which would provide a bird's eye view of the city.

It will be part of the proposed Gomti riverfront development project and experts from IIT-Roorkee have been asked to conduct a feasibility and hydrological study of the site. The team has to submit a report in four months.

"The idea of a structure in Lucknow — like the London Eye — has recently been incorporated in the Gomti riverfront project. The Chief Minister himself is interested in it," said Rajneesh Dube, vice-chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).

About the possible size and diameter of giant wheel planned in Lucknow, Dube said the specifications would be decided when the IIT team submits its report. A landscape architect would prepare the layout plan of landscaping to be done on both sides of the river.

The IIT-Roorkee team had recently inspected the river area in Lucknow and advised against making permanent construction on the riverbed. Officials said they want that the maximum area of river front would be developed as green.

"By end of this year, the basic shape of the river front development project would be ready," Dube said.

The Gomti riverfront project is inspired by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project in Ahmadabad. During the Mayawati government, a team of LDA officials had visited Ahmedabad and prepared a project to develop amusement parks, open air theatres and public utilities on both sides of the Gomti river from from Hardoi road to Shaheed Parth in Gomti Nagar. However, the project was later put on the back burner following funding issues.

The Akhilesh government has decided to revive the project, with certain changes. The Chief Minister himself is taking interest in the project which would include development of parks, walking tracks, a cycle track and public utilities along the river and a jetty to facilitate boating in the river.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Watch out for those offers, they can be risky

Tata Housing gets bookings worth Rs 450 cr in IPO-styled concept on 1 day

Breakthrough over Land Acquisition Bill as govt creates consensus

Foreign Trade Policy: Govt announces SEZ reforms to rekindle investors' interest