
Lucknow to get its own Central Park
Lucknow: The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has initiated sector development work for a proposed central park and golf course spread across 188 acre in IT City. The project is expected to provide not only premium residential facilities but also significant employment opportunities.
The project is part of the plan to develop the IT City over 2,858 acre between Sultanpur national highway and Kisan Path, which is expected to be launched around Diwali this year.
On Monday, LDA officials began sector development at the site, with local farmers from Mohari Khurd and Mohari Kalan villages actively participating in the ceremony. In a symbolic gesture of support, farmers performed a traditional bhumi pujan (ground worship) and handed over soil to LDA officials, marking the official start of work on approximately 200 bighas of land.
Heavy machinery was deployed immediately after and development on two sectors commenced.
LDA vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar said, "The IT City project is being developed with a focus on high-quality residential infrastructure and large-scale employment generation. The plan includes nearly 5,000 residential plots ranging from 72 to 200 sqmt, along with provisions for group housing.
The city's strategic location and strong road connectivity make it an ideal hub for urban growth."
Lucknow: The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has initiated sector development work for a proposed central park and golf course spread across 188 acre in IT City. The project is expected to provide not only premium residential facilities but also significant employment opportunities.
The project is part of the plan to develop the IT City over 2,858 acre between Sultanpur national highway and Kisan Path, which is expected to be launched around Diwali this year.
On Monday, LDA officials began sector development at the site, with local farmers from Mohari Khurd and Mohari Kalan villages actively participating in the ceremony. In a symbolic gesture of support, farmers performed a traditional bhumi pujan (ground worship) and handed over soil to LDA officials, marking the official start of work on approximately 200 bighas of land. Heavy machinery was deployed immediately after and development on two sectors commenced.
LDA vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar said, "The IT City project is being developed with a focus on high-quality residential infrastructure and large-scale employment generation. The plan includes nearly 5,000 residential plots ranging from 72 to 200 sqmt, along with provisions for group housing.
The city's strategic location and strong road connectivity make it an ideal hub for urban growth."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Pepsi/Coke = Bindu Fizz Jeera Masala: The war for India's tastebuds has quickly moved to your screen
Pepsi/Coke = Bindu Fizz Jeera Masala . In the high-stakes world of fizzy drinks, this comparison of a home-grown soda brand with the global behemoths may have sounded absurd until a few years ago. But Bindu Fizz Jeera Masala has found a great equaliser and a way to land in consumers' carts — through 10-minute delivery apps . 'Quick commerce helps scale faster, it's a good branding opportunity and helps in easy availability,' says Sathya Shankar, MD of SG Corporates, the company behind House of Bindu — makers of Bindu Fizz Jeera Masala, SipOn Mango and other drinks. Quick commerce is changing the way India shops. A March report by Flipkart and Bain & Company noted that India's quick commerce sector touched a total gross merchandise value (GMV) of USD 7 billion in 2024, compared to just USD 1.6 billion in 2022. Over two-thirds of online grocery orders and one-tenth of e-retail spending last year happened on quick commerce platforms, it added. Despite steep listing fees and the challenges of sustaining on platforms such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, BB Now or Zepto, smaller brands, once relegated to the corner of kirana stores or supermarkets, are muscling their way in this cut-throat race for space — and relevance. 'Our brands, Chef's Art and Sunbay, are playing in the same field as big F MCG bra nds. Quick commerce is an exciting channel for the gourmet grocery segment,' says Ajay Mariwala, managing director of Food Service India, maker of ready-toF MCG com ch g s m of m apps. ale g — era other cook foods, condiments and premixes. 'We're now able to reach the doorsteps of targeted, mid-to-premium households in metro and tier-1 cities without high marketing budgets.' What started as a pure-play grocery model has turned into an entire ecosystem. From chips and tea to lipsticks, toys, smartphones and even air-conditioners — quick commerce platforms are offering customers everything they need. And though grocery still makes up the lion's share, the ground rules remain the same for all categories, say officials. New playgrounds But behind the large product selection and speedy deliveries, a different war is unfolding. 'The battle for shelf space has now transcended to screen space,' says the chief of a mid-sized Delhi-based tea brand, requesting anonymity. 'At least two of our established national rivals are flexing their muscle to keep us out — indirectly.' According to him, the big players sometimes 'offer to co-brand or collaborate on tactical marketing and get more clicks and first-screen access on searches when a consumer is browsing through the platforms'. But getting listed on these platforms is only the start, say industry watchers. Staying visible and scaling up is the real challenge, since in a 10-second scroll window, you're up against 15-plus brands in the same category. 'On top of the listing fee, platforms often ask us to spend on co-branded high-traffic marketing events like Diwali or a big cricket final,' says the chief of a mid-sized Mumbai-based snacks maker, adding that though they don't make a profit through these events, 'it's so important to be seen on screens'. Consumer connect Mayank Shah, vice-president at cookies and snacks maker Parle Products , concurs. 'Co-branding with quick commerce channels, more so during big event days, gets significant traction. You can communicate closely with consumers here which other large channels such as neighbourhood stores or modern trade may miss.' That may be the reason why thousands of mid-sized and smaller brands are flocking to the quick commerce bandwagon — some for strategic short-term windows, others for the long haul. For each, the endgame is the same: Reach, discoverability and access to both affluent and massmarket households alike, as long as they can afford the platform charges and margins. On average, 200-250 new brands on board these platforms on a monthly basis, says an executive at one of India's leading quick commerce platforms. 'Some stay on for a few quarters, depending on how much they are willing to pay as margin fee and spends on marketing. Some exit after their short-term objectives have been met,' he adds. The big draw? A fast-track route for brands to move beyond their core regional markets to metros and midrung urban cities, without the overheads of a physical retail store. 'What would take up to three years, is now happening in shorter windows, to create visibility,' says Sandeep Goyal, MD at Rediffusion. 'This is particularly true for emerging, smaller or regional brands, which want to compete with established names with quicker timelines.' 'While the placements are margin fee-driven most times, they are also guided by long-term relationships between the brands and platforms,' the quick commerce executive pointed out. Margins and maths But instant delivery comes at a cost. The platforms charge margins of anywhere between 10-20 per cent from established players. For mid-sized or smaller ones, the numbers usually go up to 30-45 per cent . 'Quick-commerce platforms often demand margins exceeding 30 per cent , even on lower-priced SKUs, challenging the long-term viability for emerging brands. But we remain optimistic about their potential,' says Indraneel Chitale, managing partner at Pune-based snacks and sweets maker Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale. This is a common refrain among many mid-sized players, who believe that the economics — while tight — offer strategic benefits. 'The medium covers the cost of reaching newer markets and audiences, which otherwise we would have to incur. Additionally, consumer preferences are easy to test and understand,' says Shankar of SG Corporates, who created Bindu Jeera on a modest ₹35-lakh investment two decades ago. Calling instant apps a 'lucrative channel for brands to try new products and induce trials', Mariwala adds: '[Even the] Smallest of the SKUs work on this platform, which otherwise can get lost in general and modern trade. Limited selections in each category, focused, measurable communication and real-time feedback make quick commerce the need of the hour for brands like us.' Quick commerce, however, still has to move the needle for most brands' bottom line — the contribution to annual total sales remains at about 10 per cent , with the majority continuing to come from physical stores. 'Quick commerce gives discoverability, neighbourhood physical retail gives profits. It's in our own interest to balance both,' says one of the executives.


Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy' Virat Kohli after RCB's thrilling IPL 2025 win
Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath praised Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL trophy after nearly two decades. Honouring the ace cricketer from Delhi, Kamath said that after the win, Kohli became 'the Bangalore Boy.' 'Virat Kohli you are the #BangaloreBoy today. Congrats RCB,' he wrote in an Instagram story, along with a heart emoji. Kamath's comments came just hours after the IPL team defeated Punjab Kings in a tightly contested match. With a few balls to go, an emotional Virat Kohli was seen fighting back tears of disbelief as an 18-year-old dream came close to becoming a reality, with every moment. As the last ball was bowled and RCB emerged victorious, the former captain sunk to his knees and cried on the ground as teammates surrounded him. "'This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, prime and experience. I've tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled. Gave each and every ounce of my energy and it's an amazing feeling,' he said. For RCB fans, celebrations began late in the night as their team finally lifted its first-ever IPL trophy. "Ee sala cup naamde' turned into reality as supporters flooded the streets with joy, and fireworks filled the skies. Many shared videos of fireworks and celebrations in Bengaluru, comparing the festivities to Diwali. In the days leading up to the final, fans were seen organising hawans, offering digital snans to RCB team photos and going to temples with photos of Virat Kohli, seeking blessings for a win. (Also read: Indian billionaire celebrates like a true fan as RCB ends title drought and lifts IPL 2025 trophy)


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
LDA launches work on 188-acre Central Park, golf course in upcoming IT City
Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is said to have launched the development of a grand 'Central Park' and a golf course that will come up on 188 acres in its IT City project. On Monday, farmers led a ceremony marking the beginning of the infrastructure work, officials said. The IT City is being developed on land from ten villages in Mohanlalganj tehsil. The villages are Bakkas, Sonai Kanjehra, Sikandarpur Amoliya, Siddhpura, Parehta, Pahadnagar Tikaria, Rakibabad, Mohari Khurd, Khujauli, and Bhatwara. LDA officials believe that this scheme will reshape Lucknow's landscape by combining residential comfort, business opportunities, and public recreation in one integrated urban zone. LDA officials brought in heavy earth machines and took simultaneous possession of around five lakh square meters of land in Mohari Khurd and Mohari Kalan villages. The initiative is part of LDA's 2,858-acre IT City plan, which is being developed between the Sultanpur National Highway and Kisan Path. The scheme was expected to be inaugurated on Diwali this year, said LDA Vice Chairman Prathamesh Kumar. LDA will carve out around 5,000 residential plots ranging from 72 to 200 square metres. Large plots for group housing will also be developed. A 200-acre golf course and a scenic 15-acre water body are included in the plan. To boost economic activity, LDA has reserved 445 acres for industrial use and another 260 acres for commercial purposes. Officials expect the scheme to attract significant private investment, promote business growth, and create a host of job opportunities for residents. LDA joint secretary Sushil Pratap Singh, who was supervising the development work on-site, said the farmers were not just participants but partners in the city's transformation. Singh explained that under the land pooling model, a farmer giving 100% of his or her land would receive 6,800 sq. ft. of developed residential land. In Mohari Khurd, where the DM circle rate was ₹8 lakh per bigha, farmers typically received ₹32 lakh with four times compensation. But through land pooling, the developed land given in return could be worth over ₹3 crore.