14.7.08

Lucknow Crossings to get a makeover

Around 62 crossings in Uttar Pradesh's capital are all set for a makeover. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has decided to install fountains and lights on them. The beautification drive, to be undertaken at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, will cover all important crossings including the buzzing Hazratganj. A decision to this effect was taken at a high level government meeting recently where it was decided that all important crossings falling on the stretch from Kalidas marg to Kanpur road, Rae Bareli road, Sultanpur road and Faizabad road would be beautified with fountains, lights and possibly advertisements. Municipal commissioner Shailesh Kumar Singh said that beautification of crossings was long overdue. A minar based on Jaipur architecture would be installed in the centre of Hazratganj crossing. LMC sources said that the total cost of the project would be borne by the LMC. Singh, however, said that the state government would be providing the agency with funds in case of a crisis. Significantly, most of this beautification exercise would be taken at crossings falling in the VVIP areas including Ambedkar Udyan, Mall avenue, Vikaramaditya marg and Kalidas marg. Not surprisingly, such drives have often ruffled many feathers in the political circles. First, it was the makeover of Rajeev Chowk which stirred a controversy with the Congress alleging that the state government was “deliberately” sidelining the statue of Rajiv Gandhi from the centre while replacing it with a fountain and blue lights. The ‘renovated’ crossing was later gheraoed by a hosts of Congress workers under the leadership of UP Congress Committee chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi.The move also saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staging a protest under the leadership of mayor Dinesh Sharma who alleged that the renovation was carried out without proper sanction of the LMC.A couple of days back, LMC had demolished structures constructed on a crossing maintained by a prestigious business house. The crossing close to Vikaramaditya marg would now have a fountain adorned with blue lights. Singh said that the crossing was not properly maintained. “We have decided to do away with the agreement done with a company and take crossing in our own hands,” he added. Having successfully renovated crossings in all the VVIP areas, it remains to be seen if LMC would be able to continue with the exercise and meet the target of 62 crossings.

1 comment:

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