According to officials, the study will give an overview on how to execute a beautification project for Gomti. LDA Vice-Chairman (V-C) Mukesh Kumar Meshram said the team is likely to visit Ahmedabad next week.

“Since we want to beautify the Gomti riverfront, it will be good to study similar projects executed successfully elsewhere. The Sabarmati riverfront development was an ideal project for such a study,” he said.

The Gomti riverfront project is proposed to be taken up on a public-private partnership model. In July 2008, LDA had approached the Hyderabad-Calcutta-Pune Design and Project Management Private Limited for consultancy services, as the agency was involved in the beautification of the Sabarmati riverfront. Meshram said consultants were yet to visit Lucknow to study the Gomti.

Under the Gomti development plan, a channel will be created throughout the river’s 14-km stretch in Lucknow. Several public utility facilities will also be developed on its banks. “Playgrounds, amusements parks and jogging tracks will be developed along the river. Proper lighting will also be put up to ensure activities in the evening,” Meshram said.

In addition, there will be food stalls, eateries, fountains in the river, parking facilities and a jetty to facilitate boating. Besides providing entertainment to visitors, these facilities will also create job opportunities.

According to sources, it was decided in a high-level meeting recently that Khadakwasla Institute in Pune will be approached to conduct a hydro-geography study of the Gomti - a preparatory project to the beautification work.