LUCKNOW, Oct. 17 -- The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has decided to prepare layout designs for the city's ambitious IT City project internally instead of engaging a Gujarat-based agency. The move is aimed at speeding up the allotment process and holding the first plot lottery under the land pooling scheme by the end of November, officials said on Thursday.

LDA vice chairman Prathamesh Kumar said the Gujarat agency had sought more time to finalise layouts and technical details, prompting the authority to take charge of the task. "We wanted to avoid unnecessary delays in a crucial project like IT City. Preparing the plans in-house allows us to control timelines and proceed swiftly with allotment," he added.

Under the land pooling s...