Lahore Metro

This article is about the rapid mass transit system. For the bus system, see Lahore Metro Bus System.
Lahore Metro
Overview
Native name لاہور میٹرو
Locale Lahore, Pakistan
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines 3
Operation
Operation will start 2018
Technical
System length 82 km (50.95 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The Lahore Metro or Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) (Urdu: لاہور میٹرو‎) is an under construction[1] rapid transit system (metro train system) for Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan. 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),[2] will be the first line of the project and is under construction.[3] Work on the project began in October 2015,[4] and is expected to be completed by late 2017.[5][6]

History

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

The system was first proposed in 1991 and was updated in 1993 by Lahore Traffic and Transport Studies, funded by the World Bank. The project was subsequently shelved.[7]

In 2005, the Transport Department of Pakistan revisited the project and carried out a feasibility study and in 2007, the Asian Development Bank provided PKR1 billion to conduct a study on the project.[8] An 82 km (51 mi) long rail network with 60 stations was to be constructed in four separate phases as a part of the project. The first phase involved construction of a 27 km (17 mi) km railway line called green line which would include an 11.6 km (7.2 mi) underground network. This line would carry 250,000–300,000 passengers after construction.[9] The construction was expected to start in 2008 and complete in 2010.[8] However, the new Pakistani government in 2008, shifted its priorities to other projects.[10]

In June 2010, Malaysia based Scomi International proposed a US$1.15 billion monorail–based alternative to LRMTS. However, the project was not approved as the Chinese government agreed to loan the LRMTS US$1.8 billion.[8] The infrastructural investment required in LRMTS was US$61.9 million per km which was higher than the average range of US$13–50 million per km for similar projects.[11] However, the Delhi Metro was built at a cost of $2 billion for 60 km which is equivalent to $33.3 million per km and depending LRMTS's total cost of either $1.6 billion or $1.8 billion, the LRMTS will be $21.3 million to $24 million which is in range for similar projects as the loan is provided not just for the "orange line".

The governments of Pakistan and China in May 2014 signed an agreement to start an Orange Line Metro Train project.Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif signed the agreement from Pakistan side at a ceremony which was also witnessed by President Mamnoon Hussain and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The project will cost $1.6 billion.[12]

Lines

Orange Line

Orange Line

[13]
Ali Town
Niaz Baig
Canal View
Hanjarwal
Wahdat Road
Awan Town
Sabzazar
Shahnoor
Salahudin Road
Bund Road
Samanabad
Gulshan-e-Ravi
Chauburji
Anarkali Bazaar
CENTRAL
Lakshami
Lahore Railway Station
Sultanpura
UET
Baghbanpura
Shalimar Gardens
Pakistan Mint
Mahmood Booti
Salamatpura
Islam Park
Dera Gujran

In 2014, development on the Lahore Metro was revived by the Punjab Government as a $1.6 billion rapid transit project to be built with Chinese assistance. The 27.1-kilometre (16.8 mi) Orange Line (Lahore Metro) will be constructed first.[2] The Orange Line (Lahore Metro) will be 27.1-kilometre (16.8 mi) long, of which 25.4 kilometres (15.8 mi) will be elevated.[2] The service will initially projected benefit around 250,000 passengers a day. The capacity will be increased to 500,000 passengers a day by 2025. Shahbaz Sharif on the occasion said like the Metro Bus Service, the metro train would also be run in other cities after Lahore.

Blue Line

Blue Line
Legend
 Chauburji
 Mian Sahab
 Mozang Chungi
 Shadman Chowk
 Kinnaird College
 Siddique Trade Center
 Main Market Gulberg
 Liberty Chowk
 Kalma Chowk
 Barkat Market
 SKANS School
 Allama Iqbal Medical College
 Central Flats
 Shouk Chowk
 Akbar Chowk
 Township
 UMT
 Butt Chowk
 Ghazi Chowk
 unnamed
 unnamed
 Eden Avenue

The Blue Line was expected to be 24 kilometres (15 mi) in length and would have extended from Chauburji to College Road, Township.

Purple Line (Airport Link)

Purple Line (Airport Link)
Legend
 Ghazi Road
 Naqa Stop
 unnamed
 LUMS'
 Defence Chowk
 Bhatta Chowk
 Metro Cash and Carry
 Airport South
 Airport North
 Askari X
 Bahar Shah
 Ayub Stadium
 Mall of Lahore
 Fortress Stadium
 Lahore Gymkhana Club
 Aitchison College
 Punjab Assembly
 Lakshmi Chowk
 Mayo Hospital
 Data Durbar Complex

The Purple Line will an Airport rail link. It will join the Green line, at Data Darbar and the Orange Line, at Lakshami, to the Lahore University of Management Sciences via Allama Iqbal International Airport. Length will be around 32 km.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Progress: ‘Work on Metro Train in full swing’". The Express Tribune. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "City to lose 620 trees for Orange Line train". Dawn. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Progress: ‘Work on Metro Train in full swing’". The Express Tribune. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "LAHORE ORANGE LINE METRO TRAIN PROJECT – PACKAGE-1 CIVIL & ALLIED WORKS FROM DERA GUJJRAN TO CHAUBURJI 13.6 KM". Habib Construction Services. 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "‘Metro train will be completed in 2 years’". The Express Tribune. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project to be completed by October 2017". Daily Pakistan Global. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Asian Development Bank 2008, p. 2.
  8. 1 2 3 The Express Tribune 2011.
  9. ↑ Asian Development Bank 2008, p. 3.
  10. ↑ Asian Development Bank 2009.
  11. ↑ Morichi 2013, pp. 129–130.
  12. ↑ Daily Times 2011.
  13. ↑ "Lahore". UrbanRail.net.

Sources

Further reading

External links

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