Metro to run in Lucknow in December 2016

LUCKNOW: City residents may get to ride the Metro from December 2016. UP chief secretary Alok Ranjan told the media here on Monday the Lucknow Metro is likely to make its debut journey on an eight-km-long elevated track from Transport Nagar to Charbagh.
“Tenders have been floated for civil work and a pre-bid conference with bidders will be held in Delhi soon,” said Ranjan, who was accompanied by principal secretary, housing, Sadakant and Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation chief Rajiv Agarwal.
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The first eight-km track, marked as priority sector, will have eight stations and will be fully elevated. “The process for land acquisition has begun,” said Ranjan.
“The metro would cover almost 22 km from airport to Munshi Pulia crossing and will have 22 junctions. The state government has made a provision of Rs 95 crore in its latest budget and the remaining fund for an estimated cost of over Rs 4,500 crore would be managed through international loans and the Centre,” said Ranjan.

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Lucknow chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at the foundation laying stone of Lucknow Metro (file photo).
“The government has approached two international banks — European Investment Bank and French Development Bank. Teams from these banks are expected to visit the project in Lucknow in July. These banks have agreed to extend loan for the metro project at a rate of about seven per cent,” said Agarwal.