Essel group eyeing Lakshman Mela ground

LAKSHMAN MELA Ground may soon be a thing of the past, as the Lucknow Municipal Corporation has decided to hand it over to a private company for making it an amusement park.

As part of the Gomti beautification plan, the proposal regarding construction of an amusement park at Lakshman Mela ground is all set to be passed during the meeting of high-powered executive committee of Lucknow Municipal Corporation scheduled on Saturday.

The proposal has already been discussed in the meeting of executive committee on July 2 last year.  LMC sources said the Gomti beautification project is the dream project of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Lakshman Mela ground was created for organising rallies and fairs in the city.

Lucknow Mahotsav, was organised at the same venue, while Lakshman Mela, Swadeshi Mela and other fairs were organised at the same venue. Lakshman Mela venue was a favourite venue of political parties to hold rallies till the construction of Ambedkar Rally Ground at Jail Road.  

Old player in the field of amusement parks Essel Group has proposed a plan of Rs 88.86 crores to the LMC. The plan includes setting up of various types of games, restaurants, junk food, shops, cinema, exhibition room, retail shops, and other entertainment objects.

According to additional municipal commissioner AC Sinha, the LMC will be paid Rs 1 crore per year or 7 per cent income by the company.

Regarding the Lakshman Mela ground he said, “As an alternate of Lakshman Mela a new venue on the Gomti banks would be developed by the LMC between Bhaisakund and Sankalp Vatika. The expected cost of developing the alternate sight would be nearly 1 crore.”

Mayor SC Rai is all for the passing of the proposal to pave the way for the development of Gomti banks. “Yes, it may cause disappointment in some quarters that Lakshman Mela Park would be shifted. But,  in return the city would get the best of amusement parks in the world. We have a lot of land between Sankalp Vatika and Bhaisakund which would be developed as Lakshman Mela park.”

He added, “We have already planned everything for the development of Gomti banks, which would make Lucknow one of the most beautiful cities in the world.”

CEO of E City’s (a unit of Essel Groups) Atul Gupta confirmed this. He said, “Yes. The talks are on. They are in the initial stage.”