The historic city of Lucknow is set to offer a novel and eco-friendly way for tourists and residents to explore its landmarks. The much-anticipated electric double-decker bus service, named 'Lucknow Darshan', is officially scheduled to commence its guided city tours from January 7. The service is a flagship initiative of the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC).
Mock Drills Pave the Way for Smooth Launch
In a significant step towards the formal launch, the UPSTDC successfully conducted two comprehensive mock drills over the weekend. These trial runs were meticulously planned to evaluate critical operational parameters ahead of the public rollout.
The first mock drill took place on Saturday, focusing on the proposed morning circuit. This was followed by a second drill on Sunday, which tested the evening route. The primary objectives were to assess route readiness, timing schedules, and the overall passenger experience. Officials stated that these exercises were instrumental in fine-tuning various operational aspects and ensuring seamless coordination between different departments.
Route and Participants of the Trial Runs
During the mock runs, the distinctive electric double-decker bus navigated through a circuit covering some of Lucknow's most prominent locations. The trial route included:
- Vidhan Bhawan
- The Residency
- Hazratganj
- Raj Bhavan
- Gomti Riverfront
- UP Darshan Park
- Chhattar Manzil
The drills saw active participation from a diverse group of over 20 individuals. This included officials from the tourism, forest, and roadways departments, representatives from the nagar nigam, engineering students, and members of various tour and travel agencies.
Aiming for Structured and Inclusive Urban Tourism
Uttar Pradesh's Tourism and Culture Minister, Jaiveer Singh, emphasized the strategic thinking behind involving a wide cross-section of participants in the mock drills. He explained that the initiative was deliberately designed to make urban tourism in Lucknow more structured and inclusive.
"We deliberately involved officials, students and travel professionals so the service reflects multiple perspectives," said Minister Singh. This collaborative approach aims to create a tourist service that is efficient, informative, and caters to the expectations of different user groups, from administrative stakeholders to the actual tourists and tourism industry experts.
The launch of the Lucknow Darshan electric bus service marks a forward-looking move by the state government to boost tourism infrastructure. It promises a sustainable and comfortable way to discover the city's rich cultural heritage and architectural splendour, potentially setting a benchmark for other cities in the region.
