New beauty spots to be ready by Aug-end
GOMTI RIVER FRONT PROJECT 2-km stretch from bank of Gomti near 1090 crossing till Jhulelal Park to be complete by month-end
If all goes well, banks of river Gomti are going to be the most happening places for city folks as the first phase of much touted Gomti River Front (GRF) project is likely to be completed by August-end this year.
The GRF’s first phase includes the 2-km stretch from the bank of Gomti near 1090 crossing till Jhulelal Park.
“The ongoing project has added beauty to the banks of Gomti. The GRF’s first phase is expected to be completed by August-end,” said Roop Singh, executive engineer irrigation – the work agency in the project.
The officers said this stretch would have everything to make it the most beautiful riverbank. This would include lush landscaping, which is among the top-most elements on the list of the Irrigation department that is carrying out the project.
“It is ensured that the garden areas largely have flowering plants to give a vibrant look to the surroundings,” said Singh.
It is also being ensured that the stretch has a good amount of green cover. “The stretch has witnessed many plantation drives. There are many more in store that would turn the entire stretch green. By August 15, we plan to plant around 3,000 saplings in the area,” the officer added.
Apart from landscaping and plantation drives, the stretch would have a world-class joggers path to facilitate morning and evening walkers. “The stretch has a dedicated path that is constructed especially for health enthusiasts. It is made of special ‘shock absorbant’ material that would be good for joggers,” said another officer from the irrigation department.
The stretch would also have cycling tracks. Officials said a ‘Weekend Band Point’ and an ‘Open Air Theatre’ would be the main attractions here. The band point would be the best place for city-based bands or bands of armed forces to display their talent. “One can book the band point for the weekend and stage a show there,” the officer said.
Similarly, the ‘Open Air Theatre’, he said, could be the best suited place for the local artistes to stage street plays and showcase their talent. Programmes at both these spots would be managed by the Lucknow Mahotsav Samiti.
The stretch would also have amenities like public toilets, drinking water facility at every 400 metres and seating arrangements up to 500 benches (for the entire stretch).
The district administration has proposed one police station, two police outposts, CCTV coverage and other security arrangements exclusively for the GRF.
“We have proposed police stations and other security measures for the vast area. This will include a centralised public address system, control room, deployment of ‘Jal police’ to perform rescue operations during exigencies and other public safety arrangements,” said Raj Shekhar, district magistrate, who recently held a meeting with the working agency over the deadline issue.
He said other facilities like ‘Open Air Theatre’, ‘Weekend Band Point’ and others would be operational by the end of August.
The district administration has also constituted a progress monitoring committee under the DM’s chairmanship to assess the progress of the project and to ensure that the work gets completed within the deadline. The committee includes ADM (T-G), ACM4, EE Irrigation, DFO and CO Gomti Nagar.