Lucknow Metro Phase 1B Approved by Cabinet

Lucknow's public transport map is set for a major upgrade. The Phase 1B of Lucknow Metro Project received Union Cabinet's approval on 12 August at an estimated cost of Rs 5,801 crore, consisting of one metro corridor spanning 11.165km from Lucknow Railway Station (Charbagh) to Vasant Kunj via 5 elevated and 7 underground stations. The move follows years of planning, with the state government's Cabinet formally approving the execution framework required to move the project forward.

According to reports, the Uttar Pradesh Government, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved the execution of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Lucknow Metro Phase-1B East–West Corridor, connecting Charbagh to Vasant Kunj, with the agreement to be signed between the Government of India, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC). Funding for the corridor will not fall on one party alone: Centre and Uttar Pradesh will jointly fund the Charbagh–Vasant Kunj metro project on a 50:50 basis, aimed at improving urban mobility and reducing traffic congestion in Lucknow.

The approval process has been methodical. The DPR for the project was first approved on March 5, 2024, in a Cabinet meeting, and later the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, approved the total project cost on September 3, 2025. The central government's approval also included a condition that a tripartite MoU must be signed for project execution, following which the MoU draft was legally examined and refined by the Law Department before being placed before the Cabinet.

On the ground, the corridor is engineered to serve some of the city's densest neighbourhoods. The project covers 11.165 km — 4.286 km elevated and 6.879 km underground, with 12 stations in total — 7 underground in Old Lucknow and congested areas, and 5 elevated on the outer stretches. Charbagh will serve as a crucial interchange between the existing North–South line and the new East–West line, allowing seamless travel across the metro network. The alignment is designed with heritage sensitivity in mind: the alignment will pass directly through Old Lucknow, an area known for its heritage charm, narrow roads, bustling markets, and high-density neighborhoods, with 5 elevated stations and 7 underground stations ensuring efficient integration of modern metro infrastructure while minimizing disruption to historical and cultural landmarks.

Work is already progressing on execution. Major construction is expected to commence in June 2026, with a stated contract duration of 2,738 days, and the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has named Ranjit Buildcon Limited as the L1 bidder for the elevated viaduct package of the East-West corridor. The Rs 383.98 crore package covers the design and build of roughly 4.6 km of viaduct, a 740-meter ramp to the depot, and five elevated stations, along with station buildings and allied works.

For homebuyers, this is more than an infrastructure headline — it is a connectivity dividend. The Charbagh–Vasant Kunj line will directly link the city's busiest railway interchange to newer residential corridors on Lucknow's fringes, cutting commute times and widening the catchment of areas that were previously seen as "outer" Lucknow. Developers active in these growth corridors, including M3M with its residential developments in the city, stand to benefit as last-mile metro access becomes a genuine differentiator for end-users and investors alike. As construction advances through 2026 and beyond, expect renewed interest in micro-markets along the alignment, particularly those within walking distance of the upcoming elevated stations.