Lucknow-Barabanki Metro: Lucknow Metro is now preparing to reach Barabanki. UPMRC’s 150 km expansion plan includes a proposal to connect areas like Ayodhya Road, Kamta and Matiyari. Know when work can start and which routes will get priority.
Barabanki Metro: Metro in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, will no longer be limited to the city only. In the coming years, this network may extend beyond the boundaries of the capital and reach the surrounding districts. The biggest thing is that now preparations have started to provide metro connectivity to Barabanki. The survey report of UP Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has given a big indication in this direction.
In view of the increasing population, traffic and movement of lakhs of passengers daily in the capital, the government is now planning to expand the metro network on a large scale. This is why the next phase of Lucknow Metro is considered to change not just the city but the entire regional transport system.
Lucknow metro network can extend up to 150 kilometers
According to the survey report prepared by UPMRC, it is proposed to expand Lucknow Metro by about 150 kilometers in the next 10 years. Under this, 7 to 10 new corridors can be developed. The report has been sent to the government and now the process of preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) of these proposed routes is likely to start soon. According to sources, this scheme has also received in-principle approval at the government level. If this plan goes ahead on schedule, Lucknow will be among the few cities in the country where the metro network will reach beyond the city limits.
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How to go by metro from Lucknow to Barabanki?
According to the proposed plan, there are preparations to extend the existing metro line and connect it up to Barabanki. This route will be an extension of the existing line running from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshi Pulia. After this, it is proposed to extend the metro line beyond these major areas:
- Polytechnic Square
- Kamta Square
- Matiari
- Anourakala
- barabanki
This route is being considered special because the population and traffic on Ayodhya Road has increased rapidly in the last few years. Thousands of people travel between Lucknow and Barabanki every day. In such a situation, the pressure on the road is expected to reduce with the introduction of Metro.
When can work start?
Currently the project is in the survey and proposal stage. Now the next big step will be to prepare DPR. The cost, stations, routes, probable number of passengers and construction model will be decided in the DPR. According to experts, it may take some time for the DPR to be prepared and the approval process completed. Only after this the construction work will start. In such a situation, it may take many years for the metro to reach Barabanki, but for the first time such a clear roadmap has come forward regarding the plan.
Which routes will get the highest priority?
The corridors prioritized by UPMRC have been selected on the basis of potential passenger numbers and feasibility. The survey found these routes to be the most busy and practical:
- Ayodhya Road Corridor
- Charbagh to PGI route
- Ikana Stadium Area
- Oil Bagh
- Rajajipuram
- IIM Road
In view of the rapidly increasing population and traffic in these areas, metro expansion has been considered necessary.
Not just metro, smart facility will be available at the station
In the new DPR, the focus will be not only on the metro line but also on the convenience of passengers. According to the proposal, parking facilities will be developed at metro stations. Apart from this, there is also a plan to provide e-cycles, e-bikes and other e-vehicles at every station to provide “last mile connectivity” to the passengers. Its purpose is that people can easily reach home or office from the station.
Why is this scheme important for Lucknow and Barabanki?
If this project comes off the ground, its biggest benefit will be to the people traveling daily. There is heavy traffic on Lucknow-Barabanki route every day. In this case metro:
- can reduce travel time
- Can provide relief from road jams
- Will be helpful in reducing pollution
- Can accelerate development in surrounding areas
Apart from this, metro expansion is also likely to boost real estate, business and employment opportunities.
What will change in the coming 10 years?
This expansion of Lucknow Metro is not being considered just a transport project, but can become a new model of urban development of the capital and its surrounding areas. Just as Delhi Metro changed the entire regional connectivity by connecting the cities of NCR, similarly in the coming years, Lucknow Metro can also become a big lifeline for the surrounding areas including Barabanki.
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