Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (File photo)

LUCKNOW: Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his MP wife Dimple have moved an application before the Lucknow Development Authority to set up a hotel in the heart of the state capital.

According the proposal, the couple has sought permission to build the hotel on a prime property - 1 A, Vikramaditya Marg - in the neighbourhood of Hazratganj. The land was purchased by the couple in 2005 for Rs 35 lakh from a Delhi-based woman, Ujjwala Ram Nath. In its proposal, the hotel's name has been suggested as Hibiscus Heritage. The premises where the couple has sought to build the hotel is spread over 23,000 square feet and close to the 4, Vikramaditya Marg government bungalow which he had to vacate after the Supreme Court's order.

Akhilesh wanted to use the property for residential purpose

LDA secretary Mangala Prasad on Tuesday confirmed that the authority received a letter from Dimple Yadav around 12 days ago for the approval of the hotel’s map. “We have sent it to our map department for necessary verification and approvals. We have to obtain NOCs from other departments. The hotel’s map is in a nascent stage. Only after NOCs from other departments, we will determine the development fee,” he said.

Sources close to Akhilesh said that the property was registered in 2005 after which the government refused to give permission to construct a private residence there on grounds that there were heritage government bungalows and structures in the vicinity. Therefore, the government has been approached for permission to build a commercial property, the sources added.

