Lucknow's first metro line runs north to south, from the airport to Munshi Pulia. The second, the East-West corridor known as the Blue Line, will run from Charbagh through the heart of old Lucknow to Vasant Kunj. It has been talked about for years. In 2026 it finally cleared its approvals. Here is what is planned and when.
The route and stations
The line will be about 11 km long. Published figures differ slightly: one source gives 11.1 km, another 11.64 km. It is planned with 12 stations:
Underground (7): - Charbagh - Gautam Buddha Marg - Aminabad - Pandeyganj - City Railway Station - Medical Chauraha - Nawazganj
Elevated (5): - Thakurganj - Balaganj - Sarfarazganj - Musabagh - Vasant Kunj
Charbagh will become an interchange with the existing north-south line, which makes the new line much more useful than its length suggests.
Approvals and money
- The project first cleared the Public Investment Board. At that stage, reports said work could begin around Diwali this year, with about five years to finish.
- In May 2026 the state cabinet approved a three-way agreement for the project at about ₹5,801 crore, with the Centre and Uttar Pradesh sharing the cost equally.
- Barricading and soil surveys have been seen in parts of the old city, which is the usual first step before tunnelling.
- Public project records list 2029 as the expected opening year for the stations. Big underground metro projects in dense old cities often take longer than planned, so treat that date as a target.
In July 2026, a state review of the Lucknow region also approved detailed project reports for 10 new metro corridors covering nearly 150 km. Those are plans, not construction, but they show where the city expects to grow.
What it means for people living in the old city
During construction (the next few years): - Expect road diversions, dust and traffic around Aminabad, Chowk, Pandeyganj and the other station sites. - If you are renting close to a station site, ask how near the work will be and whether the approach road will stay open.
After it opens: - Homes within a short walk of a station usually become more popular with office-goers and students, and rents near stations tend to rise once a line actually runs. - Neighbourhoods like Thakurganj and Musabagh, which today feel far from the centre, will be a short ride from Charbagh.
For now, renting in the old city is still about the lane, the building and the neighbours more than the metro. We would not pay extra today for a metro that is years away.
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Facts as reported up to 19 October 2026. Timelines are official targets and may change.