Lucknow's Ekana cricket stadium renamed after Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to rename newly-built Ekana International Stadium in capital city Lucknow after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The stadium with a seating capacity of around 50,000 will now be known as ‘Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium’.

Key Facts

The stadium was renamed just ahead of first-ever international cricket match – T20 International between India and West Indies. For renaming stadium, UP Government through Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) used powers vested as per clause 17.5.1 of agreement signed between Ekana Sports City Private Ltd; GC Constructions; Development Industries Pvt Ltd and LDA. The clause 17.5.1 of agreement says that stadium will be named once project is completed. Its name was changed in memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away in August 2018. The former prime minister was Member of Parliament from Lucknow for five consecutive times between 1991 and 2009.
Note: Yogi Adityanath Government in UP earlier this year also renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj and Mughalsarai as Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya nagar.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2018