LUCKNOW, Sept. 23 -- Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Monday began acquiring land for its ambitious Naimish Nagar housing project on Sitapur Road.

LDA vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar personally distributed compensation cheques to farmers on the occasion of the beginning of Navratri, stated an official release.

The project covers nearly 1,500 hectares across 18 villages in BKT tehsil, including Bhauli, Lakshmipur, Purwa, Sairpur, Farukhabad, Kodri Bhauli and Kamalabad. The LDA board has approved an estimated expenditure of Rs.4,785 crore for land acquisition. Officials said the project will provide large-scale residential facilities along with modern urban amenities.

Secretary Vivek Srivastava said land was being purchased with far...