Greater Lucknow: Distributing the pressure of urbanization across Unnao, Kanpur and Barabanki

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to develop Greater Lucknow, encompassing the areas of Barabanki, Unnao and Kanpur. Plans are underway to devise a development strategy for areas lining up along the Outer Ring Road, Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway and Purvanchal Expressway with the intention of distributing the pressure of urbanization and the increasing population density in Lucknow.

In a bid to ensure efficient usage of space, the plans will focus on vertical expansion in the said areas, by building multi-storey structures. To ease the rapidly increasing migration to Lucknow from nearby areas, all development plans will also ensure that the necessary facilities are made available to those who will populate the expanding Greater Lucknow.

As part of the plans, discussions are also underway to build a 108 km metro line on the Outer Ring Road to enhance capital city's connectivity with these adjacent areas. An amped up network of bridges and roads along with a slew of other urbanization projects are expected to begin for the development of Greater Lucknow in the near future.

A blueprint for the development of the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region (UPSCR), which was prepared in September 2021, has already been presented in front of the government. The Chief Minister has now asked officers from the concerned departments to act on priority to ensure swift execution of the plans.