Lucknow Metro rail logo is a style statement

The symbol represents the concept of ‘connectivity’, which the upcoming metro rail in Lucknow will bring about in the city.

 

8 Jan 2014

Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

M Tariq Khan tariq.khan@hindustantimes.com

LUCKNOW: It’s as sleek, chic and contemporary as the service it represents – the metro rail. And these were the deciding factors that made the panel of experts choose the logo to represent the service that would revolutionise the way Lucknowites would commute. After all metro rail is not merely about providing a fast, efficient and modern mode of transport. It’s a catalyst for major lifestyle change.

Though the official unveiling ceremony is still round the corner, Hindustan Times brings to you an exclusive sneak preview of the emblem,themotif thatwouldmark Lucknow’s leap into the select cities that have metro rail service.

Short-listed from among 3,000 entries received in the contest, organised for suggesting a logo for Lucknow Metro Rail, this masterpiece has been designed by a brilliant, young graphic designer Pooja Yadav from the prestigious National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

While Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) officials are tight-lipped on the issue for obvious reasons, sources revealed to HT that the initial design had been tweaked and put through several changes under the watchful eyes of experts from Arts and Architecture College here.

“The beauty of this logo is that the letter ‘M’ (representing metro) can be seen as the crown on the head of the city’s most famous landmark -- the Rumi Darwaza,” points out an expert requesting anonymity. The design, according to him, is well structured, strong and highly dynamic.

“We have provided several colour options like red, blue, purple and green but the final decision on which colour is to be retained would be taken by the higher ups,” he said. According to the artiste herself, the symbol represents the concept of “Connectivity” which the upcoming metro rail in Lucknow will bring about in the city. “The criss-cross pattern not only depicts the journey with which residents will enjoy their clean and safe journey with metro but also how the whole city would be fully connected once the service rolls out,” she says.

The winner would get a cash prize of ` 20,000. The LMRC is also contemplating giving away some consolation prizes and certificates to the participants who made it to the last round.

 

Lucknow Metro: WB advice may hit project schedule

THE WB TEAM HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVT SHOULD START WORK ON THE MUNSHI PULIA-ALAMBAGH STRETCH

Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

M Tariq Khan

 tariq.khan@hindustantimes.com

LUCKNOW: 10 Jan 2014

In what could upset the itinerary for implementation of Lucknow Metro Rail project, the World Bank (WB) has asked the state government to reconsider its decision of starting work on the project from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport (CCS) to Alambagh.

Based on t he ridership demand, the WB team has instead suggested that the government should start work on the Munshi Pulia-Alambagh stretch. Interestingly, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which has drafted the metro rail’s blueprint, had identified the seven-kilometre stretch from CCS airport to Alambagh as the priority section using the same parameters.

On the direction of chief secretary Jawed Usmani, who heads the high power committee on Lucknow Metro, a two-member team of Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation is holding talks with WB and DMRC officials since Wednesday to take a final call on the route. A seven-member WB team of transport and planning experts had conducted an extensive survey, extending over five days, of the two proposed metro corridors in the city last December.

“They (WB team) are also of the view that the metro depot proposed at 32 Batallion PAC land in Sarojini Nagar should be shifted and set up somewhere within the Munshi Pulia-Alambagh section,” said a senior official requesting anonymity. The state government has already approached WB for seeking loan for the project. While remaining non-committal on lending financial assistance, the latter has readily agreed to act as an advisor to oversee the implementation of the project.

On December 27, the Union ministry of urban development (MOUD) had given its in-principle approval to Lucknow Metro. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the project later this month. But officials admit that they would now have to work fast to resolve this issue to meet the deadline. “Any change in the priority section and depot land at this stage would mean that we would again have to seek the state cabinet’s approval before we can undertake work on the project,” said the official.