Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath performed the Bhoomi Pujan for 14 development projects worth over ₹100 crore at Lucknow Cantonment on August 30, 2026. The projects are designed to strengthen water supply, education, healthcare, sports, sanitation, parking, and civic amenities in the cantonment area.
The specific projects include an Artificial Intelligence based Solid Waste Management Plant; Multi-Utility Sports Complex; Modern Crematorium; 1500 KL Underground Reservoir; Replacement of old/outlived water supply pipeline; Construction of 08 Tubewells with SCADA Automation; Overhead Tanks with SCADA; Special School for Differently Abled Children in Lucknow Cantt; Construction of Additional Classrooms & Toilet at RA Bazar Madhyamik Vidyalaya; Construction of Additional Classrooms & Toilet at Rainbow Model School; Multi-Level Robotic Car Parking & Commercial Complex; and Legacy Waste-Bio-Mining & Bio-Remediation.
Two projects are being implemented in collaboration with the state government: RA Bazar City Polyclinic and Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Coaching Centre. The Raksha Mantri emphasized that these initiatives reflect a comprehensive effort to improve civic amenities and that the development of Lucknow Cantonment is closely linked with the progress of Lucknow city, requiring coordinated efforts by the Centre and State to accelerate development and good governance.
A significant symbolic initiative involved the renaming of several markets in Lucknow Cantonment from British-era names to those of prominent Indian personalities: Royal Artillery Bazar renamed to Ekta Bazar, British Cavalry Bazar to Uda Devi Bazar, British Infantry Bazar to Matadin Valmiki Bazar, another British Infantry Bazar to Mangal Pandey Bazar, and Kanedy Market to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Market. This initiative aims to connect future generations with India's heritage and inspire national service.
The event was attended by approximately 4,000 people who also listened to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme. Other dignitaries present included UP Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak, UP Minister of State Shri Asim Arun; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta; Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha Shri Dinesh Sharma; Lucknow Mayor Smt Sushma Kharwal; Director General of Defence Estates Smt Shobha Gupta; CMD HAL Shri Ravi K; and CMD BEL Shri Manoj Jain, along with senior officials of the Defence Forces, Central & State governments and Lucknow Cantonment Board.