LUCKNOW: In a significant boost to the city’s infrastructure, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the construction of the East-West Corridor for Lucknow Metro, connecting Charbagh to Vasant Kunj via Chowk.
During a review meeting on the state’s Metro projects, the CM directed officials to extend the existing North-South corridor to IIM on one side and SGPGI on the other. Currently, the operational 22-km Red Line runs between Amausi and Mushi Pulia. The Charbagh-Vasant Kunj route marks the city’s second corridor. CM Adityanath emphasized the private sector’s interest in metro projects, urging the state government to facilitate public-private partnerships (PPP) for network expansion.
After the meeting, Nitin Ramesh Gokarn, additional chief secretary of the housing and urban planning department, shared that with the CM’s principal approval, the detailed project report (DPR) would soon be sent for cabinet approval and subsequently to the central government.
The revised DPR for the Charbagh-Vasant Kunj Blue Line corridor, prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) last year, estimated the project cost at Rs 5,880 crore. The 11.1 km East-West corridor will traverse densely populated areas of the Old City and is expected to be completed in five years.
The CM also urged officials to promote commercial activities in the Metro Rail complex, stating, “Work is going on two new phases of the projects in Kanpur and Agra. There is no shortage of money.”
