A US-BASED firm, Tetra Tech, has been appointed as consultant for the Gomti River Front Development Project — meant to give a facelift to the riverfront in Lucknow.

Tetra Tech will conduct a pre-feasibility study of the project in nine months.

After the state government approves the study report, the firm will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and design structures to be developed along the river.

The Gomti River Front Project was planned in August 2008. It aimed to create a channel across the river’s 14-km stretch in Lucknow — with public utility facilities like playgrounds, recreation grounds, jogging tracks, vendor markets, gardens, amusement parks and parking facilities along it. The LDA had started the exercise to appoint a consultant in April.

Vice-Chairman of LDA, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, said: “The firm will very soon start a study of the physical characteristics of Gomti river.” He added that Tetra Tech had expertise in the study of water resources and watershed management.

Besides Tetra Tech, three other firms — EDAW/AECOM, IL&FS Urban Infrastructure Services and Hawk Design and Planning Services (Feedback Ventures) — were in the fray.

These firms had made presentations of their work before LDA officials in July.

In India, while the corporate office of Tetra Tech is in New Delhi, it has a regional office in Lucknow. Amit Aggarwal, vice-president of Tetra Tech, said they will start the pre-feasibility study “within 10 days”.

According to an LDA official, in the pre-feasibility study, the agency will have to identify land along the river that can be developed, keeping in mind the environment clearance. The DPR will have the final design and the cost of structures to be developed along the river, he added.

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