Photos: Lucknow Metro nears launch to become UP’s first rapid transit

/ Uttar Pradesh is poised to join the ranks of eight operational metro rail projects already functioning in Indian cities, bagging the title of being Uttar Pradesh’s first functional metro line in the process. With the first phase set to launch in July 2017, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation Limited is optimistic about the reduction in road traffic and has plans of implementing integrated prepaid smart cards that will be acceptable not only for payment of metro fares but also civic amenities. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO) / The 811 meters long tunnel starts in front of Bapu Bhavan, ending in front of Mayfair in Hazratganj. It runs 60 meters deep into and crosses several old buildings in the city. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / A view of the operations station Control room for the Lucknow Metro which will monitor both corridors of the city’s metro line. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / Metro rail trials are in progress, seen here from Transport Nagar to Charbagh on the North-South elevated corridor in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / The Lucknow metro project involves routes that crisscross between underground and elevated corridors depending on feasibility and impact to surroundings. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / Workers inspect a train carriage at the Lucknow Metro Depot. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / A metro worker walks down the serpentine tunnel which eventually passes under the city’s iconic Hazratganj shopping district. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo) / A view of the Charbagh station, the four-way intersection point for both metro lines underway in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT Photo)