Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway opens this month; e-buses approved

Commuting between Lucknow and Kanpur is about to get a major upgrade, both faster and cleaner. The long-awaited Lucknow-Kanpur Elevated Expressway is slated to open this month, cutting travel time on the 95-km stretch from almost three hours to just 40 minutes.

Simultaneously, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared a pilot project to roll out privately operated electric buses on 10 routes each in Lucknow and Kanpur, boosting sustainable mobility.

With a speed limit of 100 kmph, the upcoming expressway is set to offer faster, safer, and congestion-free rides, while also giving a push to trade, education, and industrial growth. Initially, only light vehicles such as cars and two-wheelers will be allowed, as finishing touches are underway in the Sarojininagar, Banthra, and Junabag stretches.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared a pilot plan to launch privately operated electric buses on 10 routes each in Lucknow and Kanpur. Under the net cost contract model private operators will handle all operating costs without subsidies, while the government will provide charging infrastructure. The initiative aims to gradually replace conventional city buses with cleaner, eco-friendly e-buses.

Together, the expressway and the e-bus project signal a transformative leap in mobility, promising smoother connectivity, greener transport, and modernised infrastructure for both everyday commuters and intercity travellers.