Lucknow’s municipal governance has initiated an ambitious urban renewal agenda with a proposed investment of ₹400 crore aimed at transforming the city’s core infrastructure while addressing mounting environmental challenges.
The comprehensive plan spans sectors from waste management and drainage to greening and lighting upgrades, signalling a strategic pivot toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and liveable capital city for Uttar Pradesh. The urban development blueprint, approved under a mix of infrastructure-focused government schemes, will see an infusion of ₹160 crore via the Infrastructure Fund, ₹173 crore for enhancing the city’s waste management capacity, and ₹74 crore channelled into improving air quality. With this financial backing in place, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is preparing to execute multiple interlinked initiatives that balance growth with environmental stewardship.
Officials overseeing the rollout highlighted that approximately ₹134 crore will go into road construction projects, with an additional ₹60 crore earmarked for road repairs and ₹30 crore set aside for the upgrade of primary road networks. These upgrades are anticipated to improve urban mobility and reduce vehicular emissions through smoother traffic flows—addressing one of the root causes of air pollution in the city. Drainage improvements will also receive a significant boost, with ₹60 crore allocated for the construction and repair of city drains, essential for flood mitigation and monsoon preparedness. This measure is particularly timely, given the increasing unpredictability of rainfall patterns due to climate change, which has made efficient stormwater management a critical civic concern.
To reinforce its waste infrastructure, the LMC is investing ₹100 crore in constructing waste transfer stations that will facilitate the sorting and pre-processing of garbage. This upgrade aims to enhance the city’s recycling capacity and reduce the reliance on landfills, aligning with broader sustainability goals and national directives on decentralised waste management. Aesthetics and environment are also core pillars of this overhaul. A sum of ₹39.44 crore will go toward upgrading street lighting with energy-efficient alternatives, while ₹23.32 crore will fund streetlight installations in 88 urban villages under the Marg Prakash Yojana. These interventions are expected to improve safety and night-time visibility, while also cutting electricity consumption.
The water supply infrastructure will see the construction of 28 new tube wells, reboring of 46 existing ones, and new flood pumping stations—each designed to ensure water resilience as urban demand surges. Projects worth over ₹48 crore in this category have been cleared, including a municipal workshop and flood stations in key localities. In parallel, efforts to rewild the city and expand its green footprint are gaining traction. Around ₹6.71 crore has been allocated for a new urban forest under the Nagar Van Yojana, ₹16.2 crore for developing high-density Miyawaki forests, and ₹8 crore for upgrading neglected parks. These green interventions serve multiple functions: reducing ambient temperatures, improving air quality, and offering accessible recreational spaces in dense urban zones.
In a more symbolic but equally strategic move, funds have been reserved for constructing welcome gates at city entry points and installing fountains at major intersections, demonstrating an effort to blend civic pride with environmental sensibilities. Further, ₹14 crore will be spent on direct pollution control measures, including ₹2.5 crore on procuring anti-smog guns—portable devices designed to reduce particulate matter in heavily polluted areas. In tandem, a dedicated air quality improvement cell will be set up with an initial investment of ₹50 lakh, tasked with monitoring, analysis, and enforcement of clean air protocols.
Urban planners and environmental experts have welcomed the LMC’s approach, particularly its integration of infrastructural upgrades with environmental mandates. “Such an aligned investment roadmap is vital for tier-2 cities like Lucknow, which are experiencing rapid urbanisation without the preparatory ecological buffers seen in larger metros,” said a senior urban policy advisor involved with the project. While the scale of the investment is noteworthy, its impact will ultimately hinge on timely execution, transparency, and sustained civic engagement. Experts have stressed that community participation, especially in maintaining public assets like parks and drains, will be crucial to ensure long-term benefits and discourage misuse.
Lucknow’s ₹400 crore mission represents more than a civic facelift. It reflects an evolving understanding among policymakers that urban development must no longer come at the cost of ecological integrity. If delivered effectively, the initiative could serve as a model for sustainable urbanism, balancing human-centric design with climate-aware planning in India’s growing cities.
Lucknow Launches Rs 400 Crore Drive to Fight Pollution and Upgrade Infrastructure
