By IANS,
Lucknow : With its huge dome set majestically on tall carved pillars, the new imposing structure in the Uttar Pradesh capital may seem like a shrine. But it is just the police outpost meant to guard Chief Minister Mayawati’s dream project – a memorial to Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar.
Sprawling across 750 square metres in the posh Gomti Nagar area, the police outpost has been built by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) at an estimated cost of Rs.1 crore/Rs. 10 million.
While its facade is of lovely pink Mirjapuri stone, the interior is equally impressive.
As you enter the building by swinging open the sparkling glass door, you get a feeling of being in a corporate office. The five spacious rooms, with smooth reddish-black granite floors and designer ceilings, are nothing like what is normally seen in police offices.
The building also houses two bathrooms and a kitchen whose fittings can outshine even those in luxury hotels.
As the outpost is in the immediate vicinity of the Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal, the LDA has made all efforts to ensure that it contributes to the beauty of the area.
For this, the 700-metre path leading to the guard room from the Ambedkar memorial has been decked up with about 50 pairs of designer streetlights. At the head of the road is a marble statue of Gautam Buddha with four faces looking in different directions.
“This police post is one of its kind. Probably it is the most expensive one ever built in the country. Being posted here definitely makes you feel thrilled and privileged,” Vimal Kumar Gautam, who heads the police outpost, told IANS.
At least 19 policemen will be deployed to guard the memorial, which is being developed as a tourist attraction. It will have a park, museum, library and statues of Dalit leaders.
“Most of the cops attached to this outpost are currently on election duty. They would surely be excited to be on duty here,” said Gautam.
The LDA began the construction of the guard room around 10 months ago and it became functional in the last week of April. However, finishing touches are still being made to the structure.
Gautam said a police outpost in the area became a necessity after thefts of construction material from the 50-acre site of Ambedkar Sthal, which is being built at an estimated cost of Rs.10 billion.
“It has also become important to regularly inspect the area following recent accidents involving labourers,” he added.
Two labourers died in an accident while working on the site in April.
“Criminals caught by those posted at this outpost will be handed over to the Gomti Nagar police station,” said Gautam.