Lucknow Traffic Relief: Army Central Command Proposes 4 Major Underpasses in Cantonment Area

To eliminate severe traffic congestion and mitigate persistent road accidents across key arterial stretches in Uttar Pradesh's capital, authorities are preparing to construct underpasses at four major intersections within the Lucknow Cantonment zone. The strategic infrastructure proposal, initiated by the Indian Army's Central Command, aims to provide seamless mobility and enhanced safety for both civilian commuters and military families traveling across Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Lucknow–Raebareli Road) and Sultanpur Road.

Central Command Reaches Out to PWD and District Administration

The Central Command headquarters has formally addressed a priority communication to the Lucknow District Magistrate, the Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD), and the PWD Head of Department. The communication urges the prioritized construction of vehicular underpasses at designated high-density bottlenecks. Once cleared by the PWD, these grade-separated structures will facilitate unhindered movement between civil neighborhoods and military establishments, eliminating long waiting intervals and crossing gridlocks.

Critical Bottlenecks: 46 Accidents Recorded on MG Marg Corridor

An on-ground assessment conducted by Army officials highlighted that MG Marg acts as a vital lifeline linking Gautampalli to the Raebareli highway, bisecting the Cantonment zone into eastern and western sectors. The corridor hosts prominent public facilities, including the Command Hospital, three Army Public Schools, two Kendriya Vidyalayas, and the Surya CSD Canteen. Heavy vehicular movement heading toward Hazratganj, Sadar Bazaar, Telibagh, and Lohia Path has led to frequent collisions, with recent traffic data recording 46 accidents, including one fatal incident, emphasizing the urgent requirement for grade-separated crossings.

Key Underpass Locations Identified Across the Cantonment Zone

The four proposed underpass sites are situated at critical traffic junctures across the Cantonment and Sultanpur Road corridors:

• Bhagat VC Gate: Situated on the Lucknow–Raebareli Road opposite the Central Command Headquarters, serving heavy transit moving toward Sadar across the highway.

• Bipin Rawat Gate: Located adjacent to the MG Marg Power House, catering to large-scale commuter traffic traveling through the Command Hospital corridor toward Bangla Bazaar.

• FM Manekshaw Gate: Serving continuous vehicular movement connecting toward Topkhana Bazaar and Badi Lalkurti.

• Gaur Enclave Gate (Sultanpur Road): Positioned on the left flank of Sultanpur Road near the Army's Gaur Enclave Colony, regulating transit heading toward Topkhana Bazaar and Rajman Bazaar.

Major Infrastructure and Commuter Benefits

Implementing these four underpasses will provide permanent relief from chronic intersection bottlenecks, significantly lower accident risks at blind crossings, ensure secure transit corridors for military convoys and school-going children, and accelerate travel times toward Telibagh, Raebareli, and Sultanpur Road.