According to reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently unveiled a housing project in Prayagraj, utilizing land that was confiscated from the late gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed. The project, located in the Lukuarganj area, consists of 76 flats constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The allocation of these residential units was reportedly determined through a lottery system, which took place on June 9. The initiative aims to provide affordable housing to the underprivileged population in the region.

“The lottery was drawn for allotment in the auditorium of Allahabad Medical Association. After verification of 6030 applicants, 1590 were found eligible to participate in the lottery”, Arvind Kumar Chauhan, vice chairman of Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) said, while talking to the news agency ANI.

According to reports from officials, the beneficiaries of the newly handed over flats in Prayagraj will enjoy housing units covering an area of 41 square meters, at an affordable price of ₹3.5 lakh. Additionally, officials stated that flats equipped with two rooms, a kitchen, and toilet facilities were priced at ₹6 lakh.

Prior to the handover, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath engaged with attendees of the event and distributed chocolates to their children, as per eyewitness accounts. Workers revealed that extensive preparations had been underway for the past 10 days leading up to the chief minister's visit to inaugurate the housing units.

The housing project was initiated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who laid the foundation stone on a 1731-square-meter plot of land in the Lukerganj area of Prayagraj on December 26, 2021. Officials confirmed that the District Urban Development Authorities (DUDA) executed the project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), resulting in the construction of 76 flats divided into two blocks.

As per the reports, the construction took place on land that was confiscated from Atiq Ahmed, who faced charges related to the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and the subsequent killing of a key witness, Umesh Pal, in February of the same year. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were fatally shot by individuals posing as journalists on the night of April 15 while being transported for a medical examination in Prayagraj.

Image source: PTI