Lucknow’s Navy Museum in Gomti Nagar Extension will be expanded with a new water body, naval ship replicas, boating facilities and immersive digital exhibits after the Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the proposal on Friday.
The cabinet cleared the use of 6.8 acres adjoining the existing museum complex for the expansion. The land will be transferred by the Lucknow Development Authority to the tourism department for a token payment of Rs 1 lakh.
The project is being implemented in three phases. Work began in 2025 and the expansion is scheduled for completion in 2027, according to the details reported by the Times of India.
The proposed water body will form the centrepiece of the expanded visitor experience. Plans include replicas of naval ships, boating facilities and light and sound shows. The site will also feature displays on marine biodiversity and aquatic life, extending the museum’s attractions beyond its existing collection and exhibits.
Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the initiative was intended to make history, science and technology more engaging for younger visitors. He also linked the project to local employment and tourism-related businesses, although the cabinet approval details supplied do not specify the number of jobs or the expected visitor capacity.
A Curation and Experience Centre is also planned as part of the expansion. It will include digital galleries, audiovisual presentations, interactive exhibits and simulations tracing India’s maritime journey from ancient trade to modern naval operations and indigenous defence technology.
The project marks a shift in the museum’s role within Lucknow’s visitor infrastructure. Alongside galleries focused on naval history, the planned facilities will introduce water-based recreation and technology-led interpretation. That combination is intended to create a wider destination rather than a conventional static museum, based on the features approved by the cabinet.
The expansion will use land transferred from the LDA to the tourism department, placing the project within the city’s wider system of public land management and tourism infrastructure. The supplied announcement does not provide details of the project cost, implementing agency, construction tender, water-management arrangements or the source of funding for the three phases.
The cabinet has also approved ticketed entry for the expanded museum, with concessions for students and schoolchildren. The decision establishes the proposed access model but does not specify the regular ticket price, concession rates, operating hours or whether the existing museum will remain open throughout construction.
The next stated milestone is completion of the three-phase expansion in 2027. Further project details, including construction progress, the final visitor facilities and ticketing arrangements, are expected to be established as implementation advances.
