Lucknow has officially been declared India’s first AI City, marking a major leap in the country’s tech ambitions under the IndiaAI Mission. With an unprecedented ₹10,732 crore investment—the largest tech infrastructure outlay by any Indian state—Uttar Pradesh is set to establish a world-class AI ecosystem in its capital city. The plan includes deploying 10,000 GPUs, building AI language models, and setting up an advanced innovation center, making Lucknow a focal point for artificial intelligence research and development.
This designation is part of a broader effort to digitize urban governance across the state. The government is preparing a draft AI policy and expanding smart city infrastructure in multiple cities. In Lucknow and Varanasi, officials are actively exploring AI-driven traffic management systems to ease congestion and improve urban mobility. As part of the upgrade, 17 municipal corporations will be equipped with AI surveillance systems, smart cameras, license plate recognition, and SOS alert mechanisms connected directly to local police control rooms.
A key component of this transformation is ‘AI Pragya’, a large-scale skilling initiative designed to train over 1.5 lakh individuals every month in emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Developed in partnership with tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Intel, and Guvi, the program has already trained over 10 lakh youth, farmers, educators, and public sector workers across the state.
These initiatives are expected to generate tens of thousands of new jobs in the next five years, spanning from backend support to advanced AI research roles. Global players like IBM are setting up generative AI and language labs in Lucknow, while the state is actively engaging with countries including Singapore, the UAE, and Canada to attract international investment and innovation partnerships.
Adding momentum, MLA Rajeshwar Singh recently proposed an AI-based Intelligent Traffic Management System in Lucknow, expected to cut travel time by 25%, reduce fuel usage by 20%, and improve emergency response times by 40%. He also recommended forming a Uttar Pradesh Artificial Intelligence Commission to govern and monitor AI integration across departments.
As rival states like Telangana continue to push their AI credentials, Lucknow’s formal recognition as India’s first AI City gives Uttar Pradesh a commanding lead. With a bold roadmap extending to 2047, the state is positioning itself as a future-ready digital powerhouse.
