Lucknow Metro was inaugurated today. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava) Lucknow Metro was inaugurated today. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The first phase of the Lucknow Metro line from Transport Nagar to Charbagh was inaugurated on Tuesday in the presence of UP Governor Ram Naik, CM Yogi Adityanath and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

“The doors of development naturally open in a city in which a Metro train runs,” Singh was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

At the same time, CM Adityanath promised to implement similar Metro projects in other cities of the state.

The Metro corridor measuring 8.5 kilometers, over eight elevated stations, has been completed in a little over three years. It opens to the public on Wednesday promising a “cheaper, congestion-free and eco-friendly” ride.

(Express photo by Vishal Srivastava) (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

While the trial run took place in December 2016, the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) cleared the file on August 14, nearly nine months later. The foundation stone for phase-1 of the North-South Metro Rail Corridor project was laid by ex Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on March 4, 2014.

(Express photo by Vishal Srivastava) (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) said this corridor is part of a 23 km North-South Metro corridor which is being executed by LMRC from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshipulia. “The second proposed corridor, which is 11 km-long is called the East- West corridor,” said Keshav, adding that the target is to finish it by April 2019.

(Express photo by Vishal Srivastava) (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The Lucknow Metro will also have the “most advanced signaling and train control system”, called Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC), which will enable trains to virtually operate on “driverless” mode.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd