UP Cabinet hands over reins of JPNIC project to Lucknow Development Authority

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to dissolve the society constituted for the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) project.

The decision also entailed that its reins will be handed over to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).

The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, State Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said, "It has been decided to dissolve the previously constituted JPNIC Society and transfer the Centre to the Lucknow Development Authority in its present form. The LDA will now be responsible for the completion, operation and upkeep of the project." According to the decision, a total of Rs 821.74 crore disbursed so far by the state for the JPNIC project will be treated as loan to the LDA, which it will repay over a period of 30 years, Khanna added.

The cabinet also authorised the LDA to formulate procedures and conditions for the completion of the project, and to manage its operations and maintenance through private players.

The authority has also been empowered to carry out such actions as dissolution of the society and termination of its memberships.

The JPNIC project includes the construction of a state-level auditorium, a convention centre, a modern sports complex, multipurpose sports courts, and a multi-level parking facility for around 750 four-wheelers.

The dream project of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was stalled in 2017 after formation of Yogi Adityanath government in the state.

A probe into alleged corruption in the project was also ordered and since then the project has been in a limbo.

The Centre was envisioned as a world-class convention, culture, sports, and museum precinct dedicated to Congress leader and later rebel Jayaprakash Narayan.

On October 11 last year, Jayaprakash Narayan's birth anniversary, Akhilesh's plan to pay tribute to the socialist leader was thwarted when the government had the centre's entry gates barricaded with tin shades.

Akhilesh was forced to garland a photo of Narayan on the road outside and branded the government's action as a "dirty politics" tactic to discredit SP's legacy.

In 2023, Akhilesh climbed the locked gates of the centre to garland the statue of Narayan, also known as Loknayak.