Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation

What Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation does

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) is a government-owned special purpose vehicle structured as a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, tasked with developing and operating metro rail systems across the state. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Lucknow, UPMRC operates three metro networks — Lucknow Metro (operational since September 2017 with 21 stations across a 22.878 km North-South corridor), Kanpur Metro (priority corridor operational since December 2021 with a planned 32.4 km two-corridor network), and Agra Metro (priority section inaugurated March 2024 with a planned 29.4 km two-corridor network). The corporation is developing approximately 150 km of metro rail under its 'Metro Pradesh' vision, with the Lucknow Metro Phase 1B East-West Corridor (Rs 5,801 crore, Union Cabinet-approved in August 2025) as the largest active expansion project. As of recent reporting, UPMRC employs 1,001-5,000 staff and operates depots and offices across all three cities.

UPMRC's technology stack includes Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling systems, planned Unattended Train Operation (UTO) with AI-based predictive maintenance for Lucknow Metro Line 2, regenerative braking, CO2 sensor-based HVAC systems delivering 12-16% energy savings, IGBC Platinum-rated green stations, 3.312 MW of solar capacity, and over 300 rainwater harvesting structures. Revenue is generated primarily through distance-based metro fares collected via Automatic Fare Collection gates, Go Smart Cards, NCMC interoperable cards, and QR tickets, supplemented by commercial space rental at metro stations (stalls, retail, advertising). Beyond core transit operations, UPMRC has launched adjacent product lines including the MyDidi women-only e-bike shuttle service (June 2026), NCMC interoperable payment cards issued through Airtel Payments Bank, QR ticket services, and the Centre of Excellence and Training (CoET) offering international online metro certification courses priced at Rs 200 per course for Indian nationals and $100 for foreign participants. Major implementation partners include Ranjit Buildcon, GHV (India), and AYESA, while the company is led by Managing Director Sushil Kumar with functional Directors covering Finance, Works and Infrastructure, Rolling Stock and Systems, and Operations.

Name

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation

Legal name

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited

Website

https://upmetrorail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation is a 50:50 joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh that develops and operates metro rail systems in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra, serving urban daily commuters with fare-based mass transit and ancillary commercial and certification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Mass Rapid Transit / Metro Rail Services

NAICS

Urban Transit Systems (4851), Mixed Mode Transit Systems (485111), Commuter Rail Systems (485112)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Rail Metro/Subway Operators (Grade-Separated) (TLAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metro/Urban Rail Operators (Integrated Multimodal Agencies) (TLAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Urban metro rail transit
• Mass rapid transportation
• Metro rail infrastructure
• Public transit operations
• Commuter rail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucknow

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Metro Fare Revenue: Primary revenue from passenger fares collected through automatic fare collection gates, smart cards (Go Smart Card), NCMC cards, QR tickets, and token-based travel at metro stations across Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra networks.
2. Commercial Space Rental: Revenue generation through commercial spaces at metro stations including stalls, retail spaces, and advertising opportunities for business owners and brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) develops, operates, and maintains urban mass rapid transit metro rail systems across three cities in Uttar Pradesh—Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra—delivering scheduled passenger rail services via North-South and East-West corridors. Beyond metro operations, the corporation offers digital ticketing (QR tickets, NCMC interoperable cards), last-mile connectivity through the women-only MyDidi e-bike shuttle, commercial space rentals at stations, and metro-sector professional training through the Centre of Excellence and Training (CoET).

Product overview

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) operates a multi-corridor metro rail system across three cities in Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra. The company's portfolio includes three core metro rail projects: the Lucknow Metro (North-South corridor operational since 2017, with East-West Corridor Phase 1B under development featuring driverless train technology), the Kanpur Metro (two corridors covering 32.4 km total, with Corridor 1 from IIT to Naubasta nearing full operation), and the Agra Metro (two corridors covering 29.4 km). Beyond core metro operations, UPMRC offers supplementary services including the Centre of Excellence and Training (CoET) for metro professional certification, the MyDidi women-only e-bike shuttle service, Go Smart Card and NCMC payment solutions, and QR ticket digital services. The corporation is developing approximately 150 km of metro network across the state as part of its 'Metro Pradesh' vision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lucknow Metro Rail Project Operational metro rail service in Lucknow operating along the 22.878 km North-South Corridor with 21 stations (17 elevated, 4 underground). Provides daily commuter transit services across Lucknow with QR ticketing, Go Smart Card, and NCMC payment options. Daily ridership has grown from approximately 6,000 to nearly 39,000 passengers since the May 2025 extension.
• Kanpur Metro Rail Project Operational metro rail project in Kanpur comprising two corridors covering 32.4 km total. Corridor 1 runs from IIT Kanpur to Naubasta (23.8 km, 7 underground and 14 elevated stations). Corridor 2 runs from Agriculture University to Barra-8 (8.60 km, 4 elevated and 4 underground stations). Features CBTC signalling and IGBC Platinum-rated green stations. Cumulative ridership crossed 1 crore passengers.
• Agra Metro Rail Project Operational metro rail project in Agra consisting of two corridors covering 29.4 km total. Corridor 1 runs from Taj East Gate to Sikandara (14 km, 6 elevated and 7 underground stations). Corridor 2 runs from Agra Cantt. to Kalindi Vihar (15.4 km, 14 elevated stations). Directly serves the Taj Mahal tourist corridor.
• MyDidi E-Bike Shuttle Service Women-only last-mile electric bike shuttle service operating at four metro stations with a flat Rs 15 fare for rides within a 5-km radius. Operates on a 'By Women, For Women' staffing and rider model providing safe last-mile connectivity to and from metro stations.
• Centre of Excellence and Training (CoET) - International Online Metro Certification Courses Online professional training and certification division offering international metro certification courses covering rolling stock, traction, electrical systems, signalling, track maintenance, and automatic fare collection. Courses priced at Rs 200 for Indian nationals and $100 for foreign participants, available globally through online delivery.
• National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Service Interoperable transit payment card service under the 'One Nation, One Card' concept, enabling passengers to use a single card across metro systems in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and other cities, as well as buses, parking, and retail services nationwide. Offers 10% fare discount and instant issuance at Airtel Payments Bank counters with free exchange for existing Go Smart Card holders within 30 days.
• QR Ticket Facility Digital ticketing service for Lucknow Metro allowing passengers to book tickets via the official mobile application, Ticket Vending Machines, or station ticket counters. Digital QR tickets on phones or paper QR tickets from stations are scanned at Automatic Fare Collection gates for entry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ridership grew from ~6,000 to ~39,000 daily passengers since May 2025 extension
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Airtel Payments BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 July 2026Airtel Payments Bank provides instant NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) issuance counters at metro stations. The partnership enables passengers to obtain interoperable transport cards that work across metro systems, buses, parking, and retail services throughout the country.
• Ranjit Buildcon LtdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 June 2026Ranjit Buildcon Ltd was awarded a Rs 384 crore civil construction contract for the Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Phase 1B. The contract covers 4.6 km of elevated metro infrastructure between Thakurganj and Vasantkunj, including five metro stations.
• Art of Living FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2026Art of Living Foundation instructors conducted yoga sessions at Kanpur Metro depot on International Yoga Day 2026. UPMRC has incorporated yoga sessions into its employee training programmes.
• GHV (India) Private LimitedmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 June 2026GHV (India) Private Limited was awarded a Rs 127+ crore contract for constructing the Vasantkunj Metro Depot for Lucknow Metro's East-West Corridor. The depot will serve as the operational backbone providing maintenance, inspection, and stabling facilities with environmentally sustainable features including zero-discharge wastewater system.
• Indian Dental Association (IDA) Lucknow BranchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2026UPMRC partnered with IDA Lucknow Branch to organize a tobacco prohibition and oral cancer awareness campaign at Hazratganj Metro Station in Lucknow on World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness among commuters.
• AYESA (AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 February 2026AYESA was selected as the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Phase 1B East-West Corridor. The Rs 159 million contract covers detailed design services for civil, architectural, electrical, mechanical, and traction works across an 11.165 km corridor with 12 stations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation: Government-owned operator of India's oldest metro system, with ongoing expansion of new corridors. Comparable as a long-standing, government-run urban metro operator in a major Indian city.
• Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL): Joint venture between India and Tamil Nadu governments operating metro rail in Chennai with phased corridor development. Highly comparable government-SPV model and urban metro scope to UPMRC.
• Mumbai Metro One (Reliance Infrastructure): Public-private metro concessionaire operating an urban metro corridor in Mumbai. Comparable urban metro operations but contrasts with UPMRC's purely government-owned model, making it a useful private-side benchmark.
• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC): India's largest and oldest operational metro, also a 50:50 central-state JV operating multiple urban rail corridors. Closest direct comparable to UPMRC in ownership structure, governance, technology stack (CBTC), and multi-corridor operations.
• Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL): Central-state JV operating India's first metro integrated with waterborne transport in Kochi. Comparable as a government-owned urban metro operator focused on multimodal integration and sustainability.
• Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL): Metro operator in Hyderabad developed under a public-private partnership model. Comparable multi-corridor urban metro operations, fare-based revenue, and station-level commercial monetisation.
• Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC): SPV operating the Aqua Line connecting Noida with Delhi. Operates in the same Uttar Pradesh-adjacent NCR geography as UPMRC with comparable JV governance and NCMC interoperability.
• Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL / Namma Metro): Government JV operating metro rail services in Bengaluru with multiple corridors under phased expansion. Comparable as an Indian city-level metro operator deploying modern signalling and digital ticketing.
• Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) / MahaMetro: 50:50 JV of Government of India and Government of Maharashtra operating metro rail in Nagpur and Pune. Closely mirrors UPMRC's JV structure, multi-city operations, and government-driven expansion model.

Broad incumbents

• National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC): Central government entity implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connecting Delhi with neighbouring cities. Comparable rail infrastructure development under MoHUA oversight but operates regional rather than urban metro corridors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OfficialUPMetro
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialUPMetro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uttar-pradesh-metro-rail-corporation-upmrc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation