Lucknow: The sprawling ‘Sahara City’ in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar, once a symbol of extravagance and home to Sahara Group’s founder Subrata Roy’s marble-clad palace-like bungalow, is on the verge of being sealed by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC).
Spread over 130 acres, this self-contained empire boasts luxurious amenities, including offices, a stadium, an auditorium, guest houses, a petrol pump, a fire station, a swimming pool, a helipad, a modern theatre, a hospital, an artificial lake, and exclusive clubs – features that once attracted luminaries like Amitabh Bachchan, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Aishwarya Rai, and Amar Singh.
The LMC has rejected Sahara’s response to a vacate notice, citing violations of lease terms, and is gearing up for action. Officials plan to seal all gates except one for limited access before fully taking possession and deploying staff. Remaining employees, caretakers, and security personnel will be ordered to leave, marking the end of an opulent era that began in 1994-95 under Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime.
Back then, the corporation leased 170 acres (with LDA adding 100 more) for residential and commercial projects, mandating a green belt on 40 acres. Instead, Sahara developed lavish structures, ignoring eco-commitments. A 1997 cancellation notice went unheeded, and post-2012 SEBI disputes and promises of nurseries and jogging tracks remained unfulfilled.
To preempt legal hurdles, the LMC will file a caveat in the Supreme Court, ensuring its side is heard if Sahara appeals. Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar emphasised that the move stems from blatant rule breaches. As the once-vibrant complex faces evacuation, it underscores the fragility of grand ambitions amid regulatory scrutiny.