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Lucknow is moving from “City of Scams” to “City of Dreams”: Dr. Rajeshwar Singh
Dr. Singh said, “Demanding the abolition of LDA does not erase accountability for what happened during the SP government. The people of Lucknow deserve to know whether LDA was functioning as a public institution or serving the interests of influential builders.”
On the Ansal–Sushant Golf City issue, Dr. Singh pointed to published reports based on LDA’s preliminary investigation and bank details, which alleged that out of 3,489 mortgaged plots, 2,747 were registered. Around 411 acres of mortgaged land reportedly required investigation, while cases linked to Ansal had reached 224 FIRs by June 2025. He questioned why LDA, the Revenue Department and the Registration Department failed to prevent registrations of allegedly mortgaged land and why thousands of homebuyers were left struggling for possession, registry and basic amenities.
On JPNIC, Dr. Singh said the project’s expenditure rose to approximately ₹821 crore, yet it remained incomplete. He questioned the reported proposal during the SP government to hand over the public asset to a private agency for approximately ₹3 crore annually. In contrast, he said, the present arrangement involves an operator selected through an open global tender, with the operator required to undertake the remaining ₹200–250 crore work at its own cost, provide a ₹25 crore performance guarantee, make an initial payment and subsequently pay ₹6 crore annually to LDA, with a 5% yearly escalation.
On the Gomti Riverfront, Dr. Singh cited the figure of approximately ₹1,400 crore spent against an initial project cost of around ₹167 crore, while the project remained incomplete and issues concerning tendering, work allocation and implementation became subjects of scrutiny.
Dr. Singh said, “This was the SP government’s model—big announcements, escalating costs, incomplete projects, alleged protection to builders and the public ultimately bearing the consequences.”
He said thousands of families continue to face the consequences of stalled projects and inadequate infrastructure, including roads, drainage and sewerage.
Dr. Singh said the Yogi Adityanath government is working to address this legacy through protection of homebuyers’ interests, investigation of mortgaged plots, FIRs and legal action, and practical solutions for long-pending projects.
He said, “Institutions do not become weak on their own; political interference, corruption and builder–bureaucracy nexus weaken them.”
Questioning Akhilesh Yadav, Dr. Singh asked: “How were registrations of mortgaged plots allowed? Why did thousands of homebuyers suffer? Why did JPNIC remain incomplete after ₹821 crore was spent? In whose interest was the reported ₹3 crore annual arrangement proposed? Why did the Gomti Riverfront become a subject of scrutiny despite nearly ₹1,400 crore being spent?”
Dr. Singh said Lucknow has seen the consequences of the past and “will not go back.” He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Lucknow is moving beyond the “City of Scams” legacy towards becoming a “City of Dreams” built around development, good governance, modern infrastructure and the aspirations of its citizens.