By

Salman Basharat 02

Lahore Metro Bus Transit System Project Report 2014

Overview
Locale:
Transit type:

Lahore, Pakistan
Rapid transit

Number of lines:

Number of stations:

60

Operation
Began operation:
Operator:

Under construction
Lahore Transport Company

Technical
System length:
Track gauge:

82 km (50.95 mi)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)

Design
As a part of the project, four separate tracks were to be constructed in different operational
phases.
Green Line
The Green Line was expected to cost US$2.4 billion to construct and would have extend from
Shahdara to Hamza Town. The total length of Green Line was expected to be 27 km (17 mi),
with 11.6 km (7.2 mi) underground and 15.4 km (9.6 mi) overhead. There would be in total 12
underground stations and 10 overhead stations built. The route of green line was changed
slightly. Instead of going to the Regal Chowk, the route was designed to pass through Lyton
road and then join Lake road in the previously proposed route.

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Green Line Route Line

Shahdara, Timber Market, Badshahi Masjid, Bahti Gate, Jinnah Hall, Lake Road, CENTRAL Regal
Chowk, Fatima Jinnah, Qurtaba Shahma Chowk, Ichra, Canal Garden Town, Kalma Chowk,
Model Town, North Model Town, South Walton, Qanchi, Ghazi, Wapda, Nishter.

Orange Line
The Orange Line was expected to cost US$1.9 billion to construct and would have extend from
Ali Town to Dera Gujran. The total length of Orange Line was expected to be 27 km (17 mi),
with 7 km (4.3 mi) underground and 20 km (12 mi) overhead. 6 underground stations and 20
overhead stations would have been built.
Orange Line Route Line
Ali Town, Niaz Baig, Canal View, Hanjarwal, Wahdat Awan, Sabzazar, Shahnoor, Salahudin, Bund
Samanabad, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Chauborji, Lake Road, CENTRAL Lakshami, Sultanpura, University
Baghbanpura, Shalimar Gardens, Mint Mahmood, Islam Park, Salamalpura, Dera Gujran.

Blue Line
The Blue Line was expected to be a total of 24 km (15 mi) and would have extended from
Chauburji to College Road.
Blue Line Route Line
Chauburji, Mozang, Chungi, Shadman Chowk, Jail Road, Main Boulevard, Gulberg Main
Boulevard, Garden Town, Faisal Town, College Road.

Purple Line
The Purple Line would have joined the Green line, at Data Darbar and the Orange Line, at
Lakshami, to the Allama Iqbal International Airport.

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Construction
Construction of the project was divided into different packages and was awarded to different
contractors. M/s Zahir Khan & Brothers in Joint venture with M/s Reliable Engineering Services
(Pvt.) Limited constructed the major part of the Flyover including two elevated rotaries for
BRTS. Habib Construction Services construct the down ramp to taxali gate of flyover.
Construction project started in March 2012 and buses entered service in February 2013. The
system, which was constructed by the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), a
subsidiary of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) at a cost Rs 29.8 billion. The system was
built on the buildoperatetransfer basis via the collaboration between the Punjab and the
Turkish government.
The system was inaugurated by Punjab, Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif on February 11,
2013, in a ceremony attended by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozda, Prime Minister
and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, as well as ambassadors from a number of other countries. The
Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topba, also announced a gift of 100 buses.
Operation
Lahore MBS currently operates a fleet of 45 buses. A further 19 buses have been imported from
China by late 2013. The buses run on a single 28.7 km long Ferozepur Road corridor with two
other corridors being planned. Buses on the current route have an average speed of 26 km/h.
Following the initiation ceremony, use of the system was to be free during the first month.
However, following a week of chaos and overcrowding, a fare of Rs. 20 (US$ 0.2) was imposed
irrespective of the destination.
According to the Lahore Transport Company, the daily ridership of the Metrobus exceeds
180,000, with the peak hourly ridership being 10,000 passengers per hour per direction (p/h/d).
Studies conducted by the transport company claim that this figure will increase by 222% to
20,000 p/h/d in 2021.
Expansion
During May 2013, the Punjab government received the feasibility study for the Multan Road
line of the system. The study was conducted by the Turkey-based, stanbul Ulam (Istanbul
Transport), which also operates the Istanbul Metro. However, according to Punjab Metrobus
Authority officials. the expansion of the Metrobus services in Lahore seem to be a low priority
for the Punjab government, which is more inclined towards launching similar systems in the
rest of the province.
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Overheating vehicles, May 2013

During late May 2013, the Metrobuses started to develop an over-heating problem as the
temperatures in the city crossed 45C. The air-conditioners gave away and the engines started
blowing fumes. Passengers had to bear sweltering heat in the congested buses as well as
constant stoppages. Punjab Metrobus Authority's public relations officer, Amir Masood, told
the media that when the buses were imported the manufacturers, Sweden-based Volvo and
China-based Sunwin, were told to provide buses that could remain operational in temperatures
approaching 51C. When the operation error came to surface, Masood said that the suppliers
are being fined and the further import of buses from them is halted. To counter the problem,
new air-conditioning units were fitted in the buses in late June 2013.
Controversies
However, it would not be untrue to say that the Metro Bus Project was a controversial one. The
project was unique in the sense that unlike other Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Systems, it used steel
in order to create boundaries and to segregate lanes for the metro buses. this has led to
allegations by other political parties on CM Shahbaz Sharif of manipulating the tendering
process in order to create a market for Ittefaq Steel Industry, the family business of Sharif
family. The rival political parties have also termed the awarding of contracts without the
required approval of P & D Department , Punjab as gross violations of existing laws.
Critique
Showing images of similar projects operating elsewhere in Turkey and Delhi, Haque suggested
that the metro bus project needs to be brought in line with the master plan which would allow
a dynamic expansion of the existing road network.
The threat to the citys aesthetic appeal is material, said Haque, citing a case from Lahore. The
elevated expressways for metro bus in Lahore have blocked scenic views of famous historical
sites in the Old City, such as the Badshahi Mosque.
Despite the criticism, the group was generally in favour of a mass transit system, stating that it
was long overdue. Neglect on part of the civil authorities and whims of the transport mafia has
made life miserable for more than 90 per cent of commuters who do not own automobiles of
their own.
Greater consideration needs to be given to these environmental impacts and to the optimal
utilisation of tax revenue. If this project is not done right, it will cause more harm than good,
said Haque.
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Review
An architect and urban development and environment specialist, Imrana Tiwana seemed to
concur with Haque on the point that the metro bus project in Lahore is laden with issues.
This is not just a bus project it reflects our national psyche, preferences in budget allocation
and development planning as a whole she said. To validate her point, Tiwana pointed out that
80-90 per cent of Punjabs entire budget has gone towards the metro bus project.

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