The Charbagh precinct is Lucknow’s most intensely layered transit zone. In the same compact geography, it holds Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (station code LKO) — the largest and busiest station in Lucknow, 80,000 daily passengers, currently undergoing a ₹420 crore comprehensive modernisation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme — and Lucknow Junction Railway Station (code LJN), two physically adjacent but separately administered rail termini whose combined passenger volume makes Charbagh one of North India’s most significant rail precincts. The UPSRTC Charbagh Bus Station on Station Road adds road transit to this already dense connectivity matrix, making Charbagh Lucknow’s definitive multimodal hub.
Where Alambagh serves the westward and southwestward routes, the Charbagh bus stand handles the eastward and northward directions — Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, and Fatehpur. UPSRTC added 20 new ordinary buses and 35 electric buses to Lucknow’s fleet in 2022, specifically citing the Rae Bareli, Barabanki, and Gorakhpur corridors as the routes these new vehicles would serve, with several operating from Charbagh. Lucknow Metro’s Red Line serves Charbagh metro station directly, and the under-construction Blue Line when commissioned will create an interchange at the same station — transforming the already well-served Charbagh zone into a two-line metro interchange. Multiple LCTSL city bus routes — 11, 11A through 11G, 12, 13, 15, 23 series, 24A, 24B, 25, 31, 33 series, 34, 35 series — connect the bus stand to the broader city network.
Charbagh Bus Station Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Charbagh Bus Station / Charbagh Bus Stand (UPSRTC) |
| Location | Station Road, Charbagh, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh — 226004 |
| Operated By | UPSRTC (Primary); Private Operators |
| UPSRTC Helpline | 1800 180 2877 (24/7) |
| Key Routes | Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Fatehpur, Varanasi |
| Metro Station | Charbagh — Red Line (active); Blue Line interchange under construction |
| Nearest Railway Stations | Lucknow Charbagh (LKO) + Lucknow Junction (LJN) — Adjacent; ₹420 crore modernisation ongoing |
| LCTSL City Bus Routes | 11, 11A–11G, 12, 13, 15, 23, 23A, 23B, 23T, 24A, 24B, 25, 25A, 31, 33 series, 34, 35 series |
| Distance from Ayodhya | Approx. 130 km; 2.5–3 hours |
| Distance from Gorakhpur | Approx. 270–280 km; 5–6 hours |
| Distance from Rae Bareli | Approx. 80 km; 1.5–2 hours |
| Distance from Alambagh ISBT | Approx. 2 km southwestward |
| Railway Modernisation | ₹420 crore Amrit Bharat Scheme including 7-storey DGS Town Square commercial complex |
| Governing Authority | UPSRTC |
Location
Charbagh Bus Station is on Station Road in the Charbagh locality — the address that defines Lucknow’s transit identity. Cash and Pay Colony is the precise locality, and the station fronts onto the same Station Road approach shared by the two railway stations. The entire Charbagh zone is in a constant state of transit activity — the combined footfall of the LKO and LJN railway stations at over 130,000 daily passengers, the metro station, the bus stand, and the city bus stops creates one of UP’s most dense transit convergences.
Directions
From Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (LKO): Walk directly — the bus stand is on the same Station Road approach as the railway station entrance. 2 to 5 minute walk.
From Alambagh Bus Station: Travel northeastward approximately 2 kilometres, 10 to 15 minutes by auto-rickshaw.
From Hazratganj: Travel southward approximately 3 to 4 kilometres, 15 to 25 minutes by city bus or auto-rickshaw.
From Ayodhya: Travel westward via NH-27 approximately 130 kilometres, 2.5 to 3 hours by UPSRTC. The Ayodhya-Lucknow corridor has seen significant route additions since the Ram Mandir consecration in January 2024.
From Gorakhpur: Travel westward approximately 270 to 280 kilometres, 5 to 6 hours.
Connectivity
Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (LKO) with 9 platforms on the Northern Railway zone and Lucknow Junction (LJN) with 6 platforms on the North Eastern Railway zone are both walking distance from the bus stand — connecting to Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and every major Indian destination. The ₹420 crore modernisation targets May 2026 completion and includes a seven-storey DGS Town Square commercial complex at the station’s rear. Lucknow Metro’s Red Line connects Charbagh northward through the commercial city and southward toward CCS Airport. The under-construction Blue Line interchange at Charbagh Metro Station will add east-west connectivity when completed.
Nearby Areas
Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (Heritage Building): The Mughal-Rajput architectural masterpiece designed by J.H. Horniman and opened in 1914 — its domes, turrets, and ornate facades are among India’s most beautiful railway station buildings, directly opposite the bus stand. Hazratganj: Lucknow’s most famous commercial boulevard — with its arcaded colonial-era shops, bookshops, restaurants, and the historic Sahara Ganj mall — is approximately 3 to 4 kilometres northward and accessible by city bus from the stand. Rumi Darwaza: The magnificent 18th-century gateway symbolising Lucknowi architecture, built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, is within the central Lucknow zone accessible by city bus from the Charbagh transit hub.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where is Charbagh Bus Station located?
A: Station Road, Charbagh, Lucknow — 226004, directly adjacent to Lucknow Charbagh (LKO) and Lucknow Junction (LJN) railway stations.
Q2. Which metro serves Charbagh Bus Station?
A: Charbagh Station on Lucknow Metro’s Red Line, with a Blue Line interchange under construction that will create a two-line metro node.
Q3. What routes primarily operate from Charbagh Bus Station?
A: Eastward and northward UP routes — Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Fatehpur, and Varanasi. Western routes use Alambagh ISBT.
Q4. What is happening to the railway station near Charbagh Bus Stand?
A: A ₹420 crore modernisation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is underway, including a 7-storey DGS Town Square commercial complex. Target completion May 2026.
Q5. How far is Charbagh Bus Station from Ayodhya?
A: About 130 km, taking 2.5 to 3 hours — a route that has seen significant UPSRTC capacity additions since the Ram Mandir consecration in January 2024.