SP govt plans makeover for Mulayam’s dream project

The Akhilesh Yadav government has added several new features including a sports complex to the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JNIC), Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav's dream project which was on hold since 2007.

When the Mulayam government laid the foundation stone for the project in 2006, the JNIC building was proposed to house only two auditoriums, a library and an art gallery along with a parking lot and cafeteria. The government had sanctioned Rs 22 crore, of which Rs 2 crore was released immediately to kickstart construction. But the project came to a halt soon after the Bahujan Samaj Party come to power in 2007.

Now that the SP is back in power, the government has added various facilities such as sports and aquatics centre in the project.

In 2006, a three-acre area had been reserved for the project opposite Regional Passport Office (RTO) in Gomti Nagar. UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) had then prepared the foundation for the basement of the JNIC building. The centre aimed to promote socialism and Gandhian thoughts.

In the new proposal, the total area of the project site is 7.5 hectare. The government is taking additional land from Lucknow Development Authority's (LDA) Hariyali Lawn. The area available for construction is 3.8 hectare. The remaining area will be used for interlinkages, green/open spaces, parking and aesthetics.

Officials said the government plans to develop the project on international standards and hence it will select a consultant architect exclusively for planning and designing of JNIC. The LDA has invited bids for selection of the architect by October 19. A pre-bid conference was organised in this regard on Wednesday. LDA vice-chairman Rajeev Agarwal said 11 companies turned up at the conference.

The state government has made a provision of Rs 20 crore in the budget in the current financial year for the project. However, sources said the total cost may go up to Rs 150 crore. "The cost of the project will estimated accurately after the final design is prepared by the consultant architect," Agarwal said.

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