Kumbh-like tent city for Def Expo guests

Lucknow: With more than 3,500 guests expected in Lucknow for the Defence Expo being held in February 2020, the state government is planning to set up a Kumbh-like tent city in Vrindavan Yojana near SGPGI.

As per the plan, Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation will develop it on the lines of the tent city set up in Allahabad during the Kumbh, with deluxe and super deluxe Swiss cottages to cater to about 1,000 people.

The five-day expo will witness air shows and at least one by the Navy which will be using Gomti river for its show.

“Around 3,500 people are expected in Lucknow during the Expo, slated to be held from February 5-9. The defence ministry is carrying out registrations so we are not yet sure of the exact number. We do not have sufficient hotel rooms to cater to so many people and are making arrangements for a tent city in Vrindavan Yojana in an area of 200 acres, where the event will be hosted,” said a senior government official.

UPSTDC has asked for Rs 44.80 crore for the project. Currently, the government is anticipating an expenditure of Rs 112 crore for hosting the five-day event, meant to showcase UP as a preferred destination for defence manufacturing.

Another Rs 19 lakh is being estimated will be spent on taking delegates to tourist spots in and around Lucknow. The state is in the process of setting up a defence corridor, the second in the country along with Tamil Nadu, and has acquired about 1,500 hectare land as against the targeted 3,500 hectare.

“We already have 45.8 hectare in the Aligarh node, which is as much as was targeted. In Chitrakoot, 92.5 hectare out 500 hectare has been acquired or identified while 907.6 hectare of the 3,025 hectare in Jhansi has been acquired,” an official said. There are six nodes through which the corridor will pass and these include Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra.

Till November 12, a total 302 exhibitors had registered with the defence ministry, of whom 43 are foreign exhibitors. The first three days will be business days while the last two will be open for public. The final day will only have demonstrations by the various defence forces.