The second phase of the Kanpur Metro, which was set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24, is expected to significantly enhance urban mobility in the city, providing a faster and more convenient travel option to over one lakh commuters daily. The 7-kilometre underground corridor, linking Chunniganj to Kanpur Central, introduces five new stations — Chunniganj, Naveen Market, Bada Chauraha, Nayaganj, and Kanpur Central — to the metro network, as reported by project officials. Built at a cost of Rs 20 billion, the new stretch was completed in just 3 years and 4 months, ahead of its planned timeline, according to the officials. Once operational, the total length of the metro network in Kanpur will extend to 15 kilometres. Officials from the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) mentioned that the extension would directly benefit college students, office-goers, legal professionals, government employees, and long-distance travellers using Kanpur Central railway station. Panchanan Mishra, Joint General Manager of UPMRC, called it a gift to the people of Kanpur and stated that the metro would alleviate the pressure on roads, allowing people to avoid traffic jams. He added that the journey from IIT Kanpur to Kanpur Central would now take just 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, residents also welcomed the development. Ashu Soni, a local commuter, shared with PTI Videos that the metro route would bring significant relief from daily travel issues. Another resident, Amar Kumar, expressed that the new link would be immensely helpful for those who depend on public transport for their daily commute. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently reviewed preparations at the new stations and praised the pace of construction and the efficiency of the UPMRC team. The second phase is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24 during his visit to Kanpur. Uttar Pradesh already has operational metro rail corridors in Noida, Greater Noida, Lucknow, and Agra. News source: the Print