Lucknow: UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 342 development projects worth nearly ₹413 crore during a grand event organised at the Jupiter Auditorium of Indira Gandhi Pratishthan to mark the completion of three successful years of Sushma Kharkwal as Mayor of Lucknow.
The event, themed around the vision of a “Clean, Beautiful and Empowered Lucknow,” also witnessed the release of the booklet “Swachh-Sundar-Samarth Lucknow” and the screening of a short film showcasing the achievements of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
Several senior ministers, legislators, municipal representatives, officials and citizens attended the programme. Among those present were Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Urban Development and Energy Minister A. K. Sharma, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar and several elected representatives.
Mayor Highlights Three Years of Civic Transformation
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal described the occasion as a celebration of the trust and blessings of Lucknow’s residents. She said that over the past three years, she had worked not merely as a mayor but as a member of the city’s family.
She stated that the newly launched and proposed projects would strengthen the vision of a “Swachh, Sundar, Samarth Lucknow” and contribute significantly to the city’s infrastructure and urban development.
The Mayor highlighted major achievements in sanitation, road and drainage infrastructure, park beautification, women’s safety and waterlogging management. She said Lucknow has emerged as a “Net Zero Waste City,” with nearly 2,000 metric tonnes of daily waste being scientifically processed at the Shivri plant.
She further noted that out of nearly 20 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste accumulated at Shivri over decades, around 18.5 lakh metric tonnes had already been disposed of. At Ghaila, a former dumping site has now been transformed into the “Rashtra Prerna Sthal.”
Push for Sustainability and Modern Urban Services
Mayor Kharkwal also spoke about the strengthening of sanitation services through more than 1,500 electric vehicles engaged in door-to-door waste collection and the establishment of 35 modern transfer stations across the city.
Under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, over three lakh saplings have been planted, while work on the “Namo Van” project is progressing rapidly.
Ministers Praise Lucknow’s Transformation
Urban Development Minister A.K. Sharma said the transformation in Uttar Pradesh’s urban landscape reflected the vision and leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He remarked that cities and civic services represent the true image of a state.
Recalling the city’s earlier waste management crisis, Sharma said Lucknow once struggled with nearly 25 lakh tonnes of garbage accumulation, but has now established itself as a Zero Waste City. He also appreciated sanitation workers for their contribution and said the next goal is to make Lucknow India’s cleanest city.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna congratulated Mayor Sushma Kharkwal on completing three successful years in office and praised her commitment towards improving civic infrastructure. He noted that Lucknow had climbed to the third position in national cleanliness rankings and urged citizens to work collectively towards securing the top spot.
CM Yogi Calls Cleanliness a Shared Responsibility
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the efforts of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the Mayor, stating that achieving third place in the national cleanliness rankings was a matter of pride, but emphasized that the city must now strive for the number one position.
He said cleanliness is not solely the responsibility of sanitation workers, mayors or officials, but of every citizen. According to him, when governance remains transparent and accountable, cities naturally reflect that discipline and order.
The Chief Minister also praised the transformation of the former dumping ground into “Rashtra Prerna Sthal,” calling it a symbol of development and inspiration dedicated to leaders such as Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Deendayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He appreciated initiatives including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), the new municipal headquarters, model gaushalas and the CM Grid scheme, saying these projects could become national models in urban governance.
Focus on Stormwater Management and Future Infrastructure
The Chief Minister said that significant improvements had been made in stormwater management and drainage systems, reducing waterlogging issues during rainfall. He also announced approval for a new convention centre in Lucknow with a seating capacity of 10,000 people.
Concluding his address, Yogi Adityanath urged citizens and public representatives to extend positive support to development projects, stating that stronger urban infrastructure would accelerate Uttar Pradesh’s progress towards becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
