Lucknow, Aug. 25 -- Residents of Lucknow Cantonment are set to get a major upgrade in civic, healthcare, education and sports infrastructure, with 15 projects worth around Rs.100 crore scheduled to be launched on August 30. The projects, being taken up by the Defence Ministry and the state government, are aimed at addressing some of the cantonment's long-standing infrastructure gaps-from ageing water pipelines and waste disposal to access to specialised healthcare, sports facilities and competitive-exam coaching. Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to jointly perform the bhoomi pujan and foundation-laying ceremony at Dilkusha Lawn on August 30. Of the 15 projects, 12 are being taken up by the Defence Ministry and three by the state government. One of the key projects is the proposed City Polyclinic at Neeta Memorial Hospital in Topkhana Bazaar. The facility is expected to provide specialised healthcare services to nearly 25,000 residents. Under the arrangement between the Cantonment Board, Chief Medical Officer and District Health Society, the polyclinic will have seven specialist doctors, besides free medicines and diagnostic tests. For young residents, a free coaching centre under the Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana will provide preparation facilities for various competitive examinations. The cantonment will also get a modern sports complex at Dilkusha, with facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports. Another significant project is a proposed school for Special children behind Dilkusha Lawn. The initiative is expected to address the need for specialised educational facilities for children with disabilities in the area. A major thrust of the projects is on basic civic infrastructure. The 70-year-old, deteriorating water pipelines in the cantonment are being replaced, along with construction of new overhead water tanks. Work has already begun and the formal foundation ceremony will be held on August 30. The move is expected to improve water supply and address recurring problems caused by the ageing distribution network. The cantonment's waste problem is also set for a major intervention. A waste processing plant will be established on Sultanpur Road, while nearly 25 acres of accumulated legacy waste will be cleared using bio-mining technology. The exercise is aimed at permanently removing old waste dumps and reducing pollution in and around the cantonment. The development package also includes the redevelopment of the Pipraghat cremation ground, where new platforms, a prayer facility and a modern electric crematorium will be developed....