Overview
Lucknow's mass rapid transit system is the Lucknow Metro, owned and operated by the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC), formerly known as LMRC. It is the largest and oldest operational metro in Uttar Pradesh and one of five operational metro networks in the state, alongside the Delhi–Meerut RRTS, Meerut Metro, Noida–Greater Noida Metro, Kanpur Metro and Agra Metro.
For a visitor, riding end to end is straightforward. You enter a station, pass through a security check with frisking and X-ray baggage scanning, then buy a token or tap a GoSmart card at the gates. Trains run daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with the first and last services departing both terminals at those times. Peak-hour trains arrive roughly every 5 minutes 30 seconds (7:30–10:30 AM and 5:00–8:00 PM), while off-peak waits are about 7–10 minutes. A full end-to-end trip takes roughly 40–47 minutes. After 10:00 PM, you can fall back on auto-rickshaws and app cabs such as Ola, Uber and Rapido waiting near stations.
The network
The system is compact and easy to grasp: one operational metro line, a large railway station network, and buses and rickshaws filling in the gaps. There are no trams or ferries in Lucknow.
- Lucknow Metro — Red Line (North–South Corridor): the only operational metro line, running 22.87 km with 21 stations between CCS International Airport in the south and Munshi Pulia in the north. Of these, 17 stations are elevated and 4 are underground (CCS International Airport, Hussainganj, Sachivalaya and Hazratganj). The first section, Transport Nagar to Charbagh (8.5 km), opened on 5 September 2017; the full line opened on 8 March 2019. Trains are four-coach air-conditioned Alstom Metropolis sets with a maximum speed of 90 km/h, though typical operating speeds are around 32–35 km/h.
- Blue Line (Phase 1B, East–West Corridor): approved as an 11.165 km corridor from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj with 12 stations (7 underground, 5 elevated). It is under construction, with an expected completion around June 2027, and will make Charbagh a Red–Blue interchange. It is not yet open to passengers.
- Indian Railways suburban and intercity services: Lucknow's main railway stations are Charbagh (चारबाग़, Cārbāġ, station code LKO), Lucknow Junction (LJN), Lucknow City (LC) and Gomti Nagar (GTNR). The city sits on the Delhi–Gorakhpur line, with connections from Agra and Prayagraj. Notable trains include the Ayodhya Dham Vande Bharat Express and Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express from Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi); the Gorakhpur Express and Pushpak Express from Mumbai; and the Kashi Vishwanath Express, Lucknow Mail, Rajdhani Express, Swarn Shatabdi Express, Tejas Express and Vaishali Express from New Delhi.
- Buses: inter-state bus terminals are located at Alambagh, Kaisar Bagh and Polytechnic. The Roadways Inter State Bus Terminal at Alambagh is the main hub, with services toward Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and Kanpur; buses from Sunauli–Bhairawa on the India–Nepal border stop here en route to Varanasi. A luxury air-conditioned bus to New Delhi departs from Quaiser Bagh Bus Station via Sitapur, Bareilly, Muradabad and Ghaziabad to Anand Vihar ISBT. CNG buses also operate around the city.
- Auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis: available throughout the city, from Gomti Nagar to Hazratganj. Cycle rickshaws are the low-pollution option and are plentiful. Drivers can be insistent and few speak enough English for out-of-the-way destinations, so have your destination written down.
Tickets & fares
Fares are distance-based by station count and are approximate — they change, so confirm at the station or on the official app before you travel.
- Single-journey tokens: buy from Token Vending Machines (TVMs) or ticket counters, paying by cash, UPI or card. You receive a QR-code token that you tap at the entry and exit gates; it is single-use. Indicative fares: ₹10 for 1–2 stations, ₹15 for 3, ₹20 for 4–6, ₹30 for 7–9, ₹40 for 10–13, ₹50 for 14–17 and ₹60 for 18–20. The maximum single fare is ₹60 for the full CCS Airport to Munshi Pulia run.
- GoSmart Card: a rechargeable smart card costing ₹200 (₹100 card fee plus ₹100 minimum balance), with a ₹100 deposit refundable when you return the card. It gives a 10% discount on every journey and works across the UP metro systems, including Kanpur Metro, Agra Metro, Meerut Metro and Varanasi Metro when operational. Recharge at TVMs, Add Value Machines (AVMs), the UPMRC website, the Lucknow Metro app, or by net banking and UPI.
- Tourist Card: ₹100 for unlimited one-day travel plus a ₹100 refundable deposit, or ₹250 for three days — a good option if you plan several trips in a day.
- Digital options: UPI apps (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm), debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay), QR tickets via the Lucknow Metro app, and online booking through the UPMRC website.
- Concessions: children below 90 cm in height travel free, and certain categories travel free on production of a government ID.
There are no fare zones to worry about — pricing is purely by the number of stations you travel.
From the airport
Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (LKO, formerly Amausi Airport) has its own dedicated underground metro station, the southern terminus of the Red Line, with an exit leading directly to the terminal. It is the easiest and cheapest way into the city.
- To Charbagh railway station: 9 stops, about 18 minutes, roughly ₹30. Charbagh is connected to the railway station by a covered elevated footbridge.
- To Hazratganj: 12 stops, about 25 minutes, roughly ₹40 — the stop for the commercial and heritage heart of the city.
- To Alambagh ISBT: 6 stops, roughly ₹20, for inter-state buses.
- To IT Chauraha (Gomti Nagar): 15 stops, about 30 minutes, roughly ₹50.
- To Munshi Pulia: the full line, about 45 minutes, ₹60.
The airport has daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Patna, plus direct services to Bengaluru, Sharjah, Jeddah, Muscat, Dehradun, Indore, Pune, Goa and Varanasi.
Etiquette & customs
- Security first: expect frisking, X-ray baggage scanning and metal detectors at every station, carried out by UP Police PAC personnel and private security. Allow a few extra minutes at busy times.
- Escalators: stand on the right and let others walk past on the left, as is standard on Indian metro systems.
- Women's coach: the first coach of every four-coach train is reserved for women, and this is strictly enforced — male passengers entering it are fined.
- Priority seating: reserved seating and wider doorways are provided for wheelchair users, and UPMRC staff will assist on request.
- Eating and drinking: not permitted in the coaches. Photography is allowed on platforms but not near security equipment.
- Luggage: small and medium bags are fine and are X-rayed; large or oversized luggage is not permitted. Bicycles are not allowed on the metro.
- Prohibited items: flammable and explosive materials, sharp weapons, acid, large gas cylinders and bulk inflammables. Penalties for violations range from ₹50 to ₹5,000, or imprisonment.
- Rush hour: the busiest windows are 7:30–10:30 AM and 5:00–8:00 PM, when trains run most frequently but fill up quickly. Ridership peaks around major holidays — the system's record was 1.30 lakh passengers on 1 January 2024.
- On the street: auto and rickshaw drivers can be insistent. Agree the fare before you set off, and consider hiring a car with a local driver, as traffic conditions are challenging for anyone not used to them.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metro / subway — मेट्रो (metro)
- Ticket — टिकट (ṭikaṭ)
- Line — लाइन (lāin)
- Entrance — प्रवेश (praveś)
- Exit — निकास (nikās)
- Transfer / interchange — बदलाव (badlāv)
- Single fare — एकल किराया (ekal kirāyā)
- Day pass — दैनिक पास (dainik pās)
Buy a GoSmart card on your first day if you plan more than a couple of metro trips, since the 10% discount and tap-to-ride convenience quickly outweigh the small card fee.