Transport in Lahore

There are several modes of transport available in Lahore.

Map of Lahore showing major roads, railways & airports (click to enlarge)

Rickshaw and taxi

Radio cab services Uber and Careem have been introduced by some private companies. However these taxis need to be booked in advance by booking on apps and calling their number.

Auto rickshaws play an important role of public transport in Lahore. There are 246,458 auto rickshaws, often simply called autos, in the city. Since 2002, all auto rickshaws have been required to use CNG as fuel.

Bus services

Lahore Metro Bus System
Main article: Lahore Metrobus

The Lahore Metro Bus System (MBS) is Pakistan's first bus rapid transit system that runs from Gajju Mata to Shahdara down Lahore's main artery, Ferozepur Road. The route has forty-five 18-metre-long articulated buses that run between twenty-seven stations along a 27 km corridor; nine stations are built on top of an overhead bridge.[1]

It was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on February 11, 2013, in a ceremony attended by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The service was free for one month after launch.[2]

The Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), a subsidiary of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), was entrusted with the task of constructing the MBS, a copy of Istanbul's Metrobus, its own BRT system, in collaboration with Turkish experts. The project ended up costing Rs 29.8 billion.[2] It replaced the shelved the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit system which would have connected Shahdra and Hamza Town but would have cost $2.4 billion.[1]

TransLahore

TransLahore also known as Lahore Transport Company (LTC) is a public transit bus system established for the carrying of urban passengers in Lahore, Punjab.[3] It also operates a bus rapid transit system in Lahore. However, the BRTs do not have dedicated lanes and right of privilege. It was established under the companies ordinance of 1984. LTC got all the transport responsibilities of traveling in Lahore in December 2009.The fleet of TransLahore has more than 650 buses which run throughout the city as well as sub-urban areas of the city.

It travels under routes issued by the Government of Punjab.[4] It issues students "Green Card", which means that PKR 10 will be charged by the students on LTC's Buses.[5] The buses are air conditioned and have separate sections for men and women.

Bus companies

Several bus companies also operate in Lahore. Premier Bus Services, owned by the Beaconhouse Group, was started in 2003, and provides transportation services to the general public in Lahore. With over 240 buses running on exclusive routes, it is the largest public transport company in Pakistan. As of 2010, the buses are in the process of being converted to compressed natural gas for environmental and economic reasons.[6]

Sammi Daewoo's City Bus Division operates four routes within the city and two suburban routes for Gujranwala and Sheikhupura.[7]

Lahore Metro
Lahore Metro
Overview
Native nameلاہور میٹرو
LocaleLahore, Pakistan
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines3
Operation
Operation will start2020
Operator(s)Lahore Mass Transit Authority
Technical
System length27 km (16.78 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The Lahore Metro or Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) is an under construction rapid transit system (metro train system) for Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan.[8] First proposed in 1991, funding was not secured, and in 2012 it was abandoned by the Punjab government in favour of the more cost–effective Lahore Metro Bus System which opened in February 2013. However, the Punjab Government decided to restart development on the Lahore Metro as a $1.6 billion project\ with Chinese assistance. The Orange Line, which will be 27.1-kilometre (16.8 mi) long (25.4 kilometres (15.8 mi) of which will be elevated),[9] will be the first line of the project and is under construction.

Orange Line
Main article: Orange Line (Lahore Metro)

is an automated rapid transit system under construction in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. [10][11] When operational in January 2020, the Orange line will become Pakistan's first metro rail line.[12][13] The Orange line is the first of the three proposed rail lines proposed for the Lahore Metro. The line will span 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground.[14] The line will be served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passenger daily. Though it is frequently mentioned as a part of the wider China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Orange line is being financed by the Government of Punjab.[15] CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive rolled out the first of 27 trains for the metro on 16 May 2017.[16] Recently numerous successful trials have been run,to be operational from March 2020.[17]

Blue Line

The Blue Line is a proposed 24 kilometres (15 mi) line from Chauburji to College Road, Township.

Purple Line

The Purple Line is a proposed 32 km Airport rail link.

Railways

Railways and commuter trains

Pakistan Railways is headquartered in Lahore.[18] Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of transportation for commuters and connects distant parts of the country with Lahore for business, sightseeing, pilgrimage, and education. The Lahore Junction railway station, built during the British colonial era, is located in the heart of the city and serves as the major entry and exit point of the city. Other railway stations within Lahore include:

Airport
Allama Iqbal International Airport

To accommodate increased air travel, the government built a new city airport in 2003.[19] It was named Allama Iqbal International Airport after the national poet-philosopher of Pakistan, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and is served by international airlines.[20] as well as the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines.[21] The previous airport now operates as the Hajj terminal[22] to facilitate the great influx of pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj[23] every year.[24] Lahore also has a general aviation airport known as Walton Airport.[25]

Allama Iqbal International Airport connects Lahore with many cities worldwide (including domestic destinations) by both passenger and cargo flight including Ras al Khaimah, Guangzhou (begins 28 August 2018),[26] Ürümqi,[27] Abu Dhabi, Barcelona,[28] Beijing–Capital, Copenhagen, Dammam, Delhi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Doha, Dubai–International, Islamabad, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur–International, London–Heathrow, Manchester, Medina, Milan–Malpensa, Multan, Muscat, Oslo–Gardermoen, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Peshawar, Quetta, Rahim Yar Khan, Riyadh, Salalah,[29] Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Mashhad, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Tashkent[30]

See also

References
  1. Khan, Rameez (14 February 2012). "Rapid Bus Transit System: Plans for First Bus-Only Road Stretch Extended". The Express Tribune.
  2. Hasnain, Khalid (11 February 2013). "Lahore Turns Festive as Metro Bus Service Opens". Dawn.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://ltc.gop.pk/greencard/
  6. "Group Profile". The Beaconhouse group. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. "Daewoo Express (Dream Journey)". Archived from the original on 21 December 2008.
  8. "$1.6bn Lahore metro train deal signed with China". Dawn.com. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  9. "City to lose 620 trees for Orange Line train".
  10. "Good news on track: Lahore to get Pakistan’s first metro train", Express Tribune, Lahore, 23 Mar 2014. Retrieved on 20 October 2014.
  11. Development agenda: Lahore metro train gets green signal
  12. "Need for speed: Pakistan's first metro train to roar to life in March". Geo News. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017. Pakistan’s first metro train service is slated to begin operations by March 23, 2018, in Lahore, after a go-ahead from the Supreme Court on Friday.
  13. "Manufacturing of orange trains starts, says Kh Hassan". The News. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017. Latest technology will be employed for fabricating these trains and the rolling-stock will be fully computerised, automatic and driverless.
  14. "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 12. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  15. "Orange Line not part of CPEC: NA body". The Nation. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  16. "First Orange Line Metro train rolls out - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  17. "Orange Line Metro train runs on trial basis in Lahore". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  18. "Pakistan Railways".
  19. http://lahoreairport.com.pk
  20. caapakistan.com.pk – Airport Statistics Archived 2012-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
  21. http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18765 Pictorial history of Lahore Airport.
  22. https://twitter.com/aftabgilani73/status/566503143194644483 Lahore Airport Hajj Lounge after upgradation
  23. Etihad Airways opens dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility in Lahore Pakistan
  24. DHL and Etihad Cargo increase connectivity through the Middle East Archived 2014-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  25. http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18765 March 27, 1961 News Report - Lahore to Have a New Airport
  26. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/278958/china-southern-adds-guangzhou-lahore-route-from-aug-2018/
  27. Liu, Jim (18 March 2018). "China Southern adds plans Lahore launch from late-June 2018". Routesonline. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  28. "PIA advertisement promoting Barcelona resumption". Archived from the original on 14 October 2016.
  29. 2017, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Pakistan International W16 International route additions".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. "Uzbekistan Airways resumed flights from Tashkent to Lahore".
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