UP Govt To Lease Lucknow's JPNIC For 30 Years; Akhilesh Yadav Targets BJP

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to lease the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow for a period of 30 years, sparking criticism from the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The intent behind this decision is to kickstart the dormant project via private participation. The operator chosen for the lease will bear the responsibility of completing the remaining construction work and developing amenities within the centre.

Akhilesh Yadav responded to the announcement with sarcastic remarks directed at the ruling BJP government. He remarked, "after putting various public assets on lease, 'only the government itself remains to be given on contract,'" a remark that mirrors the Samajwadi Party's general discontent with the government's increasingly common practice of involving private entities in public infrastructure projects.

Located in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar, the JPNIC was initially envisioned as a prominent public facility, but has remained largely inactive for several years. The proposed lease agreement is anticipated to expedite the center's completion and operation, thereby alleviating the immediate fiscal burden on the state. This move is set to become a point of contention between the BJP and SP in the lead-up to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.