Lucknow: Rural families across Uttar Pradesh will soon have access to affordable and convenient venues for weddings, mundan ceremonies and other auspicious occasions, with the state government undertaking the construction of Panchayat Utsav Bhavans in rural Assembly constituencies.
The initiative will be implemented and managed through Gram Panchayats. Under the first phase, construction work has already begun for one Panchayat Utsav Bhavan each in 71 rural Assembly constituencies. The estimated cost of each building has been fixed at approximately Rs 1.41 crore.
A budget provision of Rs 100 crore was made during the financial year 2025-26 for construction of the Panchayat Utsav Bhavans. Funds for the first phase covering 71 rural constituencies have been released, and construction has commenced.
Each facility will require around 3,000 square metres of land, with construction planned over approximately 520 square metres. The proposed building will include a hall with a capacity of about 100 people, a stage or mandap, three rooms, toilets and a specially designed accessible room for persons with disabilities on the ground floor. Separate facilities for men and women, a disability-friendly toilet and a kitchen will also be provided, along with other essential amenities.
The government has also made financial provisions for the second phase. Under the regular budget for 2026-27, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for construction of another 71 Panchayat Utsav Bhavans. In addition, Rs 109 crore has been provided through the supplementary budget for 78 more buildings.
The initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden on rural families by providing reasonably priced venues for marriage ceremonies and other social and religious functions. Officials also expect the facilities to strengthen community infrastructure and improve access to public amenities at the village level.
Operation and Maintenance
The Panchayat Utsav Bhavans will be operated through Gram Panchayats, which will select an operator through a tendering process. The successful bidder will enter into an agreement with the concerned Gram Panchayat and will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and allocation of the facility.
The contract may remain valid for a maximum period of five years. During the contractual period, the selected operator will be responsible for maintenance and repairs, water charges, electricity expenses and other operational requirements, as specified in the agreement.
A committee headed by the District Magistrate will decide the remaining tender conditions, standard operating procedures and rates for allocation of the Panchayat Utsav Bhavans.
As part of the financial arrangement, the selected bidder will be required to deposit the first year’s contractual amount in a lump sum into the Gram Panchayat’s OSR account before execution of the agreement. The corresponding amount for each subsequent year will also have to be deposited before the anniversary of the agreement.
The government expects the Panchayat Utsav Bhavan initiative to create a network of accessible community spaces in rural Uttar Pradesh while ensuring that families can organise important social functions at affordable rates.
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