Gujarat team to present Sabarmati development model

“At Sabarmati,the experts are beautifying a 10-km stretch of the riverfront since 1997 at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore. The body has generated this amount on its own,with the state government just playing the role of a facilitator,” said Mukesh Kumar Meshram,Vice-Chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority,who was part of the team.

Meshram said in case of Gomti,project will take lesser time as the embankments have already been made.

It is proposed to undertake it in three phases. Parks,recreational facilities,markets and parking lots will be developed over an 18-km stretch of the riverfront in Lucknow. Vendors,who generally encroach upon the roadside,will now be given place in informal markets to run their business.

Gomti and Sabarmati have several similarities — width,flood conditions and source of water — which indicates that the riverfront here could also be developed like that of Sabarmati,he said.

The LDA and Irrigation Department has already decided to contact Khadkwasla institute,Pune,to conduct a hydro-geography study of the Gomti. The aspects investigated will include the highest flood level of Gomti during monsoons,its topography,soil testing and alignment.

The dredging and cleaning of the river will be done by UPPDC,for which the LDA has already paid Rs 50 lakh.

The Joint Director (Land and Development) SB Mishra and Managing Director of UP Project Development Corporation (UPPDC) Krishna Kumar were part of the team that visited Ahmedabad.