Lucknow is quietly rewriting its identity—and this time, it’s not just about Kebabs, Chikankari, or Nawabi Tehzeeb. The city of grace is stepping into the future with a bold new title in sight: India’s first AI City—and there is actual data and plans behind the dream.
At the heart of this transformation is a massive ₹10,732 crore investment earmarked to build out Lucknow’s AI infrastructure, including over 10,000 high-performance GPUs, multi-modal language models, and a dedicated AI innovation centre, setting it apart from other tech hubs in the country. This investment is reported to be 67 %
higher than any other technology infrastructure project in India, positioning Lucknow as a serious national AI hub.
The blueprint spans 20+ acres of Phase-I development within a larger ~258 acre AI City zone in the Vrindavan Yojana IT City area. Plans include tech parks, research labs, incubation centres, flexible AI workspaces, and integrated residential and commercial zones to support a true work-live ecosystem.
But it’s not just hardware and buildings. The AI Pragya initiative aims to train over 10 lakh people—from students and teachers to government workers and farmers—in AI, machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity, in partnership with global tech players like Microsoft, Google, Intel, and Guvi. Imagine a workforce not just using AI, but building it.
This isn’t futuristic buzz alone. AI systems are already getting integrated into governance, from advanced traffic management proposals to AI-enhanced surveillance and smart public services. And with institutions like IIT Lucknow and IIM Lucknow feeding the talent pipeline, the city’s academic backbone is strong.
If all goes as planned, the city of nawabs may soon be known as the city of neural networks too—and honestly, it suits Lucknow. And maybe that’s the most futuristic part of it all.