A high-speed transit corridor, similar to the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), has been proposed to connect Lucknow and Kanpur. According to The Times of India, this new line would drastically cut the travel time between the two major cities from two hours to just 50 minutes.

The Uttar Pradesh Housing Department has instructed the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) and the Unnao-Shuklaganj Development Authority to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to evaluate the project's financial viability. The state has also sought in-principle approval from the government to commence the evaluation. Following approval, a private consultant will be chosen via a bidding process to prepare the report, which is expected to take four to six months.

The proposed 67-km rapid rail corridor is planned to run from Nayaganj in Kanpur to Amausi in Lucknow. As both locations already have metro stations, the new link is expected to enhance metro ridership and improve public transport integration across both cities.

This development runs in parallel with the 63-km, six-lane Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, which is already under construction and nearing completion.

A nine-member committee, led by the principal secretary of the housing department, has been established to oversee the project and co-ordinate with the central government for necessary permissions. A senior official stated that key details, including total cost, commuter estimates, and land acquisition needs, will only be determined once the DPR is complete.