The wait ends: Lucknow gets new Metro corridor, will ease traffic in Old City area

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved Rs 5,801 crore for a new 11-km corridor of Lucknow Metro, which has been pending for over six years.
The East-West Corridor with 12 stations – 7 underground and 5 elevated – will connect Charbagh to Vasant Kunj and cover the most densely populated Old City area of the state Capital.
This metro network will not only ease traffic congestion on the narrow roads of the Old City of Lucknow, but will also provide smooth connectivity to places like Chowk and Aminabad and historical tourist destinations such as Bada and Chhota Imambaras, Rumi Darwaza, Clock Tower, and Moosa Bagh.
Thanking the Prime Minister for approving the project, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the decision will not only streamline the Capital's traffic system, but also open new avenues for employment, tourism, and investment. 'The project will elevate Lucknow to new heights by expanding its economic, social, and business infrastructure,' he added.
The project will be implemented by the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC), which is a joint venture of the Union government and the Uttar Pradesh government.
The estimated time for completion of the new corridor is five years.
Once operational, the new corridor, also called Phase-1B, will extend Lucknow's active Metro network to 34 km, linking key commercial hubs such as Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, and Chowk. It will also improve access to major healthcare institutions like King George Medical University and old city areas known for their rich heritage and culinary culture.
By easing congestion on the busiest routes of old Lucknow, the Metro will reduce travel time with improved connectivity to the Amausi airport, Charbagh railway station, and bus terminals.
The 11.165-km corridor will comprise 4.286 km of elevated and 6.879 km of underground sections. It will integrate with the existing North-South Corridor (Phase 1-A) at Charbagh, which will function as an interchange station, facilitating seamless transfers for commuters between the two corridors.
The stations on the new corridor are Charbagh (underground), Gautam Budh Road (underground), Aminabad (underground), Pandeyganj (underground), City Railway Station (underground), Medical Chauraha (underground), Chowk (underground), Thakurganj (elevated), Balaganj (elevated), Sarfarazganj (elevated), Moosabagh (elevated), and Vasant Kunj (elevated).
'This new corridor will strengthen access to Old Lucknow's rich cultural heritage, cuisine, tourism destinations, and employment hubs for those living in newer parts of the city,' said Sushil Kumar, the Managing Director of UPMRC Limited.
A senior UPMRC official said the process of floating tenders will begin very soon. 'The UPMRC has already undertaken significant groundwork and compiled essential research data for the corridor,' the official said.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the East-West Corridor was approved by the Uttar Pradesh government in March 2024, while the clearance from the Network Planning was granted on July 9, 2024. It was recommended by the Public Investment Board in May 2025.
As of now, the Phase 1-A or North-South Corridor of the Lucknow Metro is operational, connecting the CCS Airport to Munshi Pulia, a distance of 22.87km. The corridor started in 2019 and has a total of 21 stations.