Construction of the Phase 1A line began on 27 September 2014 with the 8.5 km (5.3 mi) stretch fromTransport Nagar toCharbagh which began its commercial operation on 5 September 2017.[5] Full operation onRed Line stretch fromCCS International Airport toMunshi Pulia began operation on 9 March 2019. The Lucknow metro project is the most expensive transport system in Uttar Pradesh to date with an estimated total cost for Phase 1A (Red Line) and 1B (Blue Line) of about $2 billion, of which₹6,928crore (US$820 million) was spent on phase 1A.[7]
The Government of Uttar Pradesh Approved the construction of the 11.165 km long East-West Corridor betweenVasant Kunj toCharbagh, Phase 1BBlue Line at an estimated budget of₹5,881crore (US$700 million) in January 2024.[8][9][10]
Lucknow Metro achieved its highest ever ridership of 1.30 lakh passengers since its inception in 2017 on 1 January 2024 which surpassed the previous record of 93,237 passengers set on 25 December 2023.[11]
The original design of the metro project included one north-south and one east-west corridor, with links through Gomti Nagar. Estimated costs for the north-south corridor were₹5,413 crore (equivalent to₹110 billion or US$1.3 billion in 2023),₹3,611 crore (equivalent to₹74 billion or US$880 million in 2023) for the east-west corridor and₹495 crore (equivalent to₹10 billion or US$120 million in 2023) for the link through Gomti Nagar.[12] The initial layout of the east-west corridor started from Rajajipuram and ended at Hahnemann, after passing throughGomti Nagar viaHazratganj and Patrakarpuram, a distance of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi). However, in 2010 the design was changed so the corridor started from Vasant Kunj and terminated at Charbagh, a revised distance of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi).[13]
The metro could accommodate speeds up to 90 km/h (56 mph) but the typical usage would be at speeds of 34 km/h (21 mph) for the north–south corridor and 32 km/h (20 mph) for the east–west corridor. Originally, the metro trains were to be housed in one of two depots, a 20 hectares (49 acres) depot at Vasant Kunj and another at the airport, but due to security concerns the airport depot was removed from the plan.[18]
In 2013, a report published by the Department of Housing and Urban Planning of theGovernment of Uttar Pradesh resulted in major changes to the metro project. The two corridor design was scrapped and replaced with one featuring a denser network of connectivity. This revision resulted in the layout of route being entirely elevated with no underground sections. The increased coverage of the metro would raise the cost of the project but reduced the operating cost per km. The reduction in operating cost is impacted by the difference in construction costs of the line itself, one km of overhead track costs₹180crore (US$21 million) as compared to₹550crore (US$65 million) for an underground track. The underground design also raised concerns about safety as well as increased energy consumption. The report also proposed the construction of an elevatedBus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) as a feeder service to the metro.[19]
September 2008: DMRC submits a concept paper after the Lucknow metro rail project is proposed by theGovernment of Uttar Pradesh headed by chief ministerMayawati.
February 2009: An agreement is signed between DMRC and LDA.[20]
October 2013: LMRC, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is formed by theGovernment of Uttar Pradesh to build and operate the Lucknow Metro.[25] The SPV is incorporated under theCompanies Act, 1956 on 25 November 2013.[25] Construction Phase to begin in December.[25][26]
November 2013: DMRC submits tender for Lucknow Metro work, promises to complete the first phase by Feb 2017.[27]
20 June 2017: Fifth metro train set arrives at Transport Nagar depot.[39]
8 July 2017: Sixth and final metro train set arrives for first phase requirement.[40]
27–28 July 2017: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CMRS) performs on-site inspection to confirm readiness of the Metro for service.[41]
29 August 2017: Inauguration ceremony, on 5 September 2017, confirmed. Announcement that metro trains will run between Transport Nagar and Charbagh.[42][43]
23 February 2019: Work on whole of North-South Corridor (Red Line) completed, CMRS approves for commercial run. Full line to be inaugurated on 8 March 2019.[47][48][49]
8 March 2019: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi inaugurates full stretch of Red Line of Lucknow Metro.[50]
January 2024: The Government of Uttar Pradesh has planned extension of the Red Line from CCS Airport to SGPGI, Lucknow on one end and from Munshipuliya to Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow on the other end.[51][52]
August 2019: Modified DPR is yet to be approved by state government and also LMRC is yet to get land for Metro deport which is to come up near upcomingVasant Kunj.[53]
January 2024: The Government of Uttar Pradesh Approved the construction of 11.165 km long East-West Corridor betweenVasant Kunj toCharbagh,Blue Line which is also known as Phase 1B, at an estimated budget of₹5,881crore (US$700 million) in January 2024 with an expected completion timeline of 2029.[54][55]
In Phase 1, 21 metro stations were built on the Red Line from CCS Airport to Munshipulia and 12 metro stations will be built on the Blue Line from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj.[56][57]
On 5 October 2015,Alstom was awarded a₹1,102 crore (equivalent to₹17 billion, US$200 million or €170 million in 2023) contract to construct twenty four carEMU for Phase 1A, based on their Metropolis design.The vehicles are to be constructed at Alstom's factory inSricity,Andhra Pradesh.[61][62]
Inside view of a coach of Lucknow Metro Manufactured byAlstom
WiFi is available at each station with free access for smart card holders. Other services include free purified drinking water and free toilets.[63][64]
The north–south corridor of the Lucknow Metro uses anautomated fare collection (AFC) system, provided by Datamatics.[65]
Typical view of platform of Lucknow Metro (In pictureSingar Nagar station)
Lucknow Metro's security is based on a hybrid model. TheLucknow City Police, which has raised a dedicated squad of 393 personnel for this purpose from PAC, provides general security, which includes frisking, scanning, maintaining and having quick response teams (QRT) as per security norms,[66][67][68] while a private security agency provides operational security, which including maintaining hygiene of the station and ensuring that people queue properly.[66][67][68]
The cumulative ridership of the metro rail in Lucknow crossed 1 million in the first 70 days of commercial operation;[72] the rapid-transit system received 31,688 passengers on its inaugural day of services, and recorded a ridership of 41,075 on 10 September.
As of June 2018[update], thedaily ridership of Lucknow Metro ranges between 10,000 and 11,000;[73][74] with monthly ridership being 480,000 in September 2017, 400,000 in October 2017, 300,000 in November and December 2017, and around 300,000 in January, February, March and April 2018. As of 2019, as many as 60,000 people are using metro service on a daily basis in Lucknow.[1]
Lucknow Metro achieved its highest ever ridership of 1.30 lakh passengers since its inception in 2017 on 1st January 2024 which surpassed the previous record of 93,237 passengers set on 25th December 2023.[75]
Lucknow Metro was awarded 2nd Place for 'Best Metro for Excellence in Innovative Designs' at 5th Annual Metro Rail Summit inNew Delhi behind theDelhi Metro. It competed against the other metro projects of the country likeMumbai Metro,Jaipur Metro etc.[77]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation won theDun & Bradstreet Infra Award in 2017 in the Metro Rail category for completing "Priority Corridor" of the North –South Corridor (Phase 1A) and commissioning the project in a record time of less than three years. .[79][80]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation won the International 'Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' (RoSPA) Award. LMRC was given the Silver Award for its Phase 1A (North-South Corridor) in the Project/Infrastructure category for the year 2018.[81]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation was certified with the highest green rating (i.e. the Platinum Rating) by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).[82]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation hasInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001: 2004 & Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001: 2007 certificates in recognition of the organisation's integrated management system in compliance with ISO & OHSAS standards and requirements.[83]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation was awarded the"Best Urban Mass Transit" project during the 10th Urban Mobility India Conference & Exhibition and CODATU XVII Conference underMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs atHyderabad,Telangana in November 2017.[84]
Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation's managing director, Kumar Keshav,[85] was awarded with the 'Shaan-E-Lucknow' award by the organisers of the Lucknow Book Fair and a special postal envelope cover bearing the logo, symbol and mnemonic of Lucknow Metro was released.[86]
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