N-S Metro corridor inspection likely from today

CRS expected to monitor Metro’s trial runs on the 23-km route

Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) is likely to inspect the North-South corridor from Wednesday to Friday and monitor Lucknow Metro’s trial runs on the entire 23-km route.

And if the CRS gives the go-ahead, commercial run on the Amausi airport-Munshipulia stretch is expected to begin from February 28, said officials.

There was a strong possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging off the first train from Amausi airport metro station to Munshipulia station in the presence chief minister Yogi Adityanath, said insiders.

Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) officials claimed that all the engineering, electrical, civil and mechanical works had been completed and they were ready for the trials.

“The ₹6,928-crore North-South corridor of Lucknow metro has been completed. The 23-km stretch has 22 stations and three of these are underground,” said a senior official of LMRC.

After the commercial run begins, the corporation expects a daily traffic of at least four lakh passengers on the route.

“The LMRC is ready for even 10 lakh passengers per day as all the 20 sets of trains have arrived and have been tested. The trains are one of the safest and most advanced in the world,” said the official.

Of the total route length of 22.878 km, elevated route will be 19.438 km while the underground route length will be 3.440 km with 19 elevated and three underground

metro stations (Bapu Bhavan, Hussainganj and Hazratganj).

The metro between Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport and Munshipulia is expected to reduce the traffic burden on city roads.

LMRC officials said the smooth

and pollution-free ride would prompt more people to use the metro.

Initially, 30% of vehicular traffic would be reduced because of metro, said experts.

“The mass transit system will motivate thousands to board the metro and shun auto-rickshaws and even their cars. The present road infrastructure in Lucknow is not enough for a hassle-free ride, especially from Charbagh to Munshipulia,” said Kumar Keshav, managing director, LMRC.

“Metro will give residents the option of a clean transport and reduce vehicular traffic. Fares will not be a concern as metro offers a comfortable journey when compared to journey by road,” said VS Yadav, environmentalist.

“Air-conditioned coaches are a totally different experience. As cab services in Lucknow cost more, people will prefer Metro,” he said.

He added, “Due to metro, there will be 50,000 vehicles fewer vehicles on the road every day hence pollution will be reduced.”