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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Back to glory: Literary Park to celebrate Prayagraj's rich legacy
In a move to preserve and promote Prayagraj as a centre of literary and cultural heritage, a dedicated literary park is all set to come up in Sangam city soon. Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad, was once known as the influential centre of literary creativity in Hindi and Urdu. The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) has already initiated the process in this regard, and the Construction and Design Services (C&DS) division of Jal Nigam has been designated as the implementation agency for this project, said officials. The proposed park would come up near the existing Shivalaya Park in the Arail area of Prayagraj, and the land for it has already been identified. Being constructed over two-and-a-half acres of land, the park would come up at a cost of over ₹12.03 crore. The funds have been sanctioned, and the first installment of over ₹6.01 crore has been released. 'The park's construction will start in June and will be completed within a year,' said Rohit Kumar Rana, project manager, C&DS. Prayagraj has been known not only as a religious city but also for its literary and cultural heritage. It has a rich literary history, serving as a major centre for Hindi and Urdu literature, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. It has been home to many literary giants and has a strong tradition of book-reading and literary events. Many prominent writers, including Munshi Premchand, Mahadevi Varma, Sumitranandan Pant, Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Upendra Nath 'Ashk', and Harivansh Rai Bachchan, are associated with Prayagraj. But in the last few decades, not much effort has been made to develop or conserve it, concede officials. The construction of a literary park is an effort in this very direction so that local citizens and tourists can get information about this heritage, they maintain. C&DS project manager Rohit Kumar Rana said that first, a Saraswati Pavilion will be constructed in the park, in which statues of 16 major Hindi litterateurs will be installed. A Triveni Amphitheatre will also be constructed here, where cultural events will be held. There will be a huge library-cum-convention hall inside the park, which will have a collection of literature created by these litterateurs and their memories, he explained. The official said that there will also be a book-selling centre inside this park so that literature lovers can buy the books of the noted litterateurs to take with them. There will also be a kids' zone for children in the park. A food plaza will also be constructed for snacks and beverages like tea, coffee, fruit juices, and soft drinks, he added.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
LMC's shooting range comatose, likely to get shot in the arm
LUCKNOW The Lucknow Municipal Corporation's shooting range constructed near Amausi airport over a decade ago continues to be in a state of neglect. Left incomplete after 2012, the facility is gathering dust and lying abandoned with no official visit in months, except for some guards deployed by the civic body at the premises. The range, which once held a promise of meeting Olympic standards, is a picture of crumbling infrastructure. Locked gates of building blocks, broken glasses, stray cattle occupying the buildings and no proper road connectivity are among the problems plaguing the site, revealed a ground check of the site by Hindustan Times on Tuesday. An LMC official said the shooting range was completed in 2012 with an investment of around ₹17 crore. The facility was meant to include a 10-metre, 25-metre and 50-metre range, along with an armoury and office building. However, the project was left incomplete due to a lack of funds. The official added that the authority didn't have adequate funds to purchase equipment. However, the UP Jal Nigam's Construction & Design Services (C&DS) has now been assigned the task of revamping the facility at a cost of ₹204 crore. A new detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared and the existing 25m and 50m blocks will be replaced by hostel buildings including Hostel A and Hostel B. The old 10m range will be renovated and integrated with new facilities while the administration block will remain, confirmed LMC officials. An official from the C&DS mentioned that a DPR is being prepared, which will be submitted to the state government for approval. The site will be connected to the outer ring road to improve access. A cafeteria and marriage lawn are also being considered to attract more footfall. Additional municipal commissioner AK Gupta said: 'The new project will be handled by the C&DS. The old range will be merged with the new design. The estimated cost is ₹204 crore, including GST. 'The last official visit to the site was made last year by previous municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh and chief engineer (civil) Mahesh Verma. But no restoration work followed,' said a guard at the range. Despite being touted as a future hub for professional shooters, the site is rarely used. 'Security agencies and ATS teams use the facility occasionally, after paying fees to the LMC, but visits are not frequent,' the guard confirmed. Jamal Asgar Rana, a national-level shooter, expressed skepticism about the planning. He criticized the earlier design for flouting international norms particularly placing trap and rifle shooting lanes in conflicting directions. 'If the new construction is to serve its purpose, it must follow International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) guidelines. The project executing agency should consult professionals before beginning work,' he urged. A state-level meeting on Wednesday reviewed the project status and emphasized the need for professional execution. The final DPR is expected soon, following which a government order will be issued and tenders floated to begin construction. REDESIGNED RANGE TO HAVE 1. Ten lanes each of 10m, 25m, and 50m shooting ranges 2. A pickleball court 3. A tennis court 4. A restaurant 5. A renovated administrative building .
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
Memorial done, UP now plans a museum on Maharaja Suheldev in Bahraich
Bahraich: The state govt is planning to set up a museum based on the life of Maharaja Suheldev on the premises of the recently constructed memorial in the name of King of Shravasti, on the banks of Chittora Lake in Bahraich. The museum will help the tourists visiting the memorial to learn about the great warrior's life, said principal secretary of the tourism and culture department, Mukesh Meshram who conducted an inspection of the memorial on Sunday. Meshram was accompanied by tourism director Prakhar Mishra, district magistrate Monika Rani, Raja Payagpur Yashvendra Vikram Singh, and other officials. Meshram paid homage to the equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev while reviewing the ongoing development works at the memorial site, including the temple, ghats, Maharaja Suheldev's statue, grand entrance gate, parking area, boundary wall, and other facilities. He expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of the construction work. Meshram instructed that landscaping and grassing work be carried out in accordance with the grandeur of the memorial. He directed the forest and horticulture departments to assist in this work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He also sought proposals for the development of a pathway around the lake, ensuring the cleanliness of the water body, setting up boating facilities, and other beautification works. The tourism officer was asked to prepare proposals for facade lighting, the decoration of the VIP guest house, and the enhancement of the hall within the complex. Meshram directed the executing agencies, C&DS and the State Construction Corporation, to maintain cleanliness within the premises and ensure regular watering of plants during the summer season. He emphasized the use of tree guards for plant protection. While inspecting the bathing ghat, he stressed the need for better cleanliness arrangements around the area. Maharaja Suheldev is believed to have defeated and killed Ghaznavid general Ghazi Syed Salar Masud at Bahraich in 1034 CE.
