Lucknow, October 14, 2025: With the festive season around the corner, Lucknow Police have implemented stringent measures for the sale and distribution of firecrackers and fireworks, licensing 1,018 temporary outlets across the city to ensure safety compliance.

Licensed Outlets and Safety Measures

The sanctioned outlets include prominent sale points such as:

• DAV Inter College (Naka): 40 outlets
• Shakuntala Degree College (Para): 40 outlets
• Sarojini Nagar’s Sainik Ground: 68 outlets
• Vikas Nagar Mini Stadium: 50 outlets

However, some locations, like PNT Maidan (Talakatora), remain unlicensed due to pending clearance from the postal department.

“Fifty-seven permanent shops were given licences,” said JCP (Law and Order) Babloo Kumar. He added that the police commissionerate has been actively engaging with firecracker manufacturers and vendors, issuing guidelines for the manufacture, storage, transportation, and sale of fireworks, stressing that operations must occur only at approved locations.

Preparations for Chhath Puja

Ahead of Chhath Puja, inspections were conducted under Zone-5 of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation to assess cleanliness and civic arrangements at key puja sites. The review, led by Additional Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Srivastava, covered areas including Chitragupt Nagar, Sarojini Nagar Ward-I, and Ward-II.

UPSRTC Boosts Fleet for Festive Rush

The Yogi Adityanath government has instructed the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) to operate additional buses from October 18 to 30 to ensure smooth travel during Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath.

• Drivers and conductors working 12–13 consecutive days will earn incentives up to ₹5,850.
• Workshop and managerial staff will also receive rewards for enhanced service.

FSDA Cracks Down on Adulterated Food

In a pre-festive crackdown, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) raided the city’s Khoya Mandi in Naka Hindola, seizing over 270kg of suspected adulterated khoya (milk solids) valued at Rs 1,08,000.

Other items inspected included paneer, milk-based sweets, namkeen, cooking oils, vanaspati, ghee, artificially coloured sweet toys, and more. 12 food samples were collected for laboratory testing. According to Deputy Commissioner FSDA VP Singh, legal action will follow once test results are received, in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Warnings Issued to Shops

Apart from Khoya Mandi, inspections were carried out across various parts of the district, with shops failing hygiene or safety checks receiving improvement notices and formal warnings to rectify deficiencies immediately.