LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Development Authority will take over the development of South City following the termination of its 37-year agreement with Unitech Builders.
The authority plans to complete outstanding civic projects, including roads, drainage, parks, and other amenities, funded by selling properties still owned by the group. This decision, proposed during a board meeting on August 5, received approval from board members. Residents, some of whom invested in the township decades ago, can breathe easier as they have long awaited vital services. Work will commence after required administrative approvals and property evaluations are finalized.
The original agreement, signed on July 20, 1988, allowed Unitech to develop the township as a licensee. Although some parts of the project were completed, officials have noted multiple violations of contract terms, which ultimately led to the builder’s insolvency. An LDA official stated, “We have terminated the contract to ensure residents receive the facilities they were promised. The LDA will undertake the remaining development work without further delay.”
South City spans several blocks and contains over 2,000 residential units, 18 large parks, schools such as Millennium and LPS, Garden Galleria Mall, fuel stations, commercial complexes, shops, and smaller residences. The residential area consists of nine blocks, each with 200–250 plots.
Residents reported that the builder’s office in the colony closed in 2010-11, and no staff returned afterward. Complaints regarding incomplete amenities have persisted for over a decade. The builder’s insolvency case is currently under review by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
LDA officials expressed that the takeover will enable them to tackle civic issues that have lingered for years. In addition to infrastructure work, plans include establishing a community center and enhancing public spaces, with an emphasis on prioritizing drainage and road repairs to improve connectivity and sanitation.
