LUCKNOW: What was once a foul-smelling garbage heap in the Ghaela area along IIM Road in Lucknow has now been transformed into a sprawling national inspiration site. On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the “Rashtra Prerna Sthal” in the Uttar Pradesh capital to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During the event, Modi will unveil bronze statues of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and tour a state-of-the-art museum.
From Dump to Landmark
The 65-acre site, developed at a cost of approximately ₹230 crore, was once infamous as a garbage dump, emitting stench and spreading filth across the area. The site’s degradation also polluted the Gomti River and rendered the surrounding soil infertile, deterring residents from visiting.
Municipal Efforts Transform the Land
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation took on the formidable task of reclaiming the land. Over six years, more than 6.5 lakh metric tons of waste were removed and shifted to Shivri on Mohan Road at a cost of ₹13 crore. The land, damaged by legacy waste, required extensive treatment over a year and a half before it was restored to fertile condition.
Development by LDA
Once the land was rehabilitated, it was handed over to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), which, over three years, transformed it into the grand Rashtra Prerna Sthal. The site now stands as a symbol of national pride, combining green spaces with modern museum facilities, and serves as an inspiring landmark for citizens and visitors alike.
From a neglected dumping ground to a center of inspiration, Rashtra Prerna Sthal reflects the city’s transformation and the vision of turning urban challenges into heritage landmarks.
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