LUCKNOW, July 31 -- Nearly a year after the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) submitted a proposal to revive the long-stalled Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC)-one of the city's biggest public infrastructure projects worth Rs 864 crore-the state government is yet to approve the selection of a private operator for it. In a fresh push to move the project forward, senior officials of the LDA and the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board held a meeting on Thursday to discuss approval of the 'Request for Proposal' (RFP) and the process for appointing a private agency to develop, operate and maintain the sprawling complex under the public-private partnership model. An LDA official, requesting anonymity, said: "The proposal remains with the state government. Discussions were held on the RFP and the process of selecting the private operator so that the project can move ahead once clearance is received." The official further said a tender would be floated only after seeking approval from the state government to invite bidders for the project. Currently, the LDA has opened only a portion of the JPNIC parking area to accommodate vehicles visiting its headquarters, while the rest of the facility remains non-operational. Spread over 20 acres in central Lucknow, JPNIC was sanctioned in 2013 at a cost of Rs 864 crore as a flagship destination for international conventions, sports events and hospitality. Construction, however, stalled in 2017 due to cost escalation and administrative delays. According to officials, the RFP proposes a PPP model under which the selected private operator will receive a three-year grace period to complete the remaining construction, install services and prepare the campus for public use. During this period, no concession fee will be charged. After the initial three years, the operator will either pay a minimum annual concession fee of around Rs 6 crore or share 30% of its annual revenue with the LDA. The final revenue-sharing mechanism will be determined after the state government approves the proposal. The draft also includes consumer protection clauses....