Lucknow :

From Tuesday onwards, you can enjoy evenings in the idyllic settings of Janeshwar Mishra Park in Gomtinagar extension. The sprawling park, claimed to be Asia’s largest garden, will be thrown open to the public on August 5.

Initially, only one-third (96 acres) area of 376-acre park will be opened. The park, named after late socialist and Samajwadi Party leader Janeshwar Mishra, is being developed at a cost of Rs 168 crore. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will inaugurate it on Mishra’s birth anniversary on Tuesday.

The grand project will have beautiful landscapes, two huge ponds spread over 38 acres, golf course, horse riding trail, lakes, sports centre, gymnasium, cycle track, jogging track, theme gardens, children’s play area, lawns etc.

In the beginning, public will have access only to a pond spread over 11 acres and the green belt around it. The entire project has to be completed by May 2015.

Among the major attractions would be the boats resembling gondolas, which have been brought from a Noida-based mall for a trial run. “We have purchased two boats which will ferry visitors across the water body,” said an official. Around 2,500 trees have also been bought from Meerut and Saharanpur for the park. Ponds will be recharged through rainwater harvesting and the entire park will be fully solar powered.

LDA has deployed a huge team of executive and junior engineers to complete the work before deadline. Many new townships are also coming up around the site. Officials claim rates of these properties, especially LDA’s Riverview Phase II apartments, would escalate once the entire park would be ready.

“Just wait for six more months, these flats will sell like hot cakes as it will become the most prime locality (in the city) considering the large green space, public recreation facilities, golf course etc,” said an official associated with Janeshwar Mishra Park.

Janeshwar Mishra

Janeshwar Mishra, also known as Chhote Lohia, was a famous socialist leader. He represented Allahabad three times in the Lok Sabha and was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1996, 2000 and 2006. Mishra was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Phulpur in 1969-70 after defeating KD Malviya, then petroleum minister in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet. He served as Union minister in the governments of Morarji Desai, Chaudhary Charan Singh, VP Singh, Chandrashekhar, HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral. Mishra held key portfolios like petroleum, water resources chemicals and fertilisers, energy, shipping and transport, communication and railways. He joined the Samajwadi Party in 1990s.

LDA struggles to meet deadline

As the deadline approaches, LDA is struggling to meet the expectations of chief minister who wants the park to be modelled on the lines of famous Hyde park of London.

The grand inauguration will be held at the park’s entrance plaza but about 30% of construction work is still pending. Workers are still fixing the tiles and polishing marbles. The main pond at the entrance, which will have fountains, is under-construction.

Trees that were planted a few days back have started drying. Officials say these plants are special as they dry up on plantation and before growing into a green tree. The entire land had to be ploughed in a hurry before sowing grasses. This has led to loosening of soil particles and formation of sludge due to rains.

The last minute preparations have also led to the function being planned in absence of the statue of Janeshwar Mishra. Officials said the 25 feet statue is being sculpted by a renowned Australian sculptor. But it won’t arrive in time for inauguration, confirmed LDA.

Earlier, officials had claimed that gondolas would be imported from China or Japan or Venice, but instead LDA has bought boats resembling gondolas from Noida.

Interesting bits

Inauguration to be held without the statue of Janeshwar Mishra

Park to be developed on the lines of Hyde Park of London

Once park gets ready in 2015, rates of properties around the site to shoot up

Boats resembling gondolas to be run on trail basis

Hurried ploughing has loosened soil and led to sludge in the park

Civil work at entrance plaza still on, fountains missing

Entire focus on constructing walking, jogging and cycling track

In next phase, construction of sports facilities like cricket, badminton and lawn-tennis etc., will be done

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 04th, 2014