Lahore's Elevated Highway Project: Details and Advantages Unveiled in Pakistan

Lahore Set to Transform with New Expressway and Transport Upgrades

Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, is gearing up for a significant transformation in its transport infrastructure. The Punjab government has approved an elevated expressway project worth Rs120 billion, aiming to turn Lahore into a modern urban transport hub.

The 11-kilometer elevated expressway will run from Main Boulevard Gulberg to the M-2 Motorway at Babu Sabu, reducing travel time between the city's commercial heart and the motorway from 45 minutes to just 10. This signal-free route will include six major interchanges and will be designed to connect seamlessly with Lahore's existing Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train systems.

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq described the initiative as a "game changer" for the city's mobility and economy. The new expressway will ease congestion on some of Lahore's busiest roads such as Jail Road, Shama Chowk, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, and Bund Road.

In addition to the elevated expressway, officials are discussing plans to expand the Metro Bus and Orange Line networks in Lahore. The city's existing transport infrastructure already includes the 27km Metro Bus system, Pakistan's first mass rapid transit service, and the 27km automated rail system of the Orange Line Metro Train.

At the national level, a proposed high-speed "bullet train" linking Lahore and Karachi is being considered as a game-changing project. If realised, this could reduce travel time between the two cities to just five hours.

Feasibility studies have also been floated for new metro rail lines connecting underserved parts of the city, aiming to further improve Lahore's transport network. The Lahore Ring Road, another vital artery, helps divert intercity traffic around the city and connects with national highways.

Once complete, the elevated expressway will enhance Lahore's image as a modern mega-city, with an integrated transport network designed to meet the demands of its growing population of over 12 million. The project aims to ease bottlenecks, cut fuel consumption, lower emissions, and reduce overall travel distances by an estimated 82 kilometres.

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is responsible for the planning and implementation of the expressway connecting Gulberg to the M-2 Motorway in Lahore. The project does not involve any trackless metro system, as stated in a separate article.

In conclusion, Lahore is on the brink of a transport revolution. The new expressway, along with the planned expansions and improvements to the Metro Bus and Orange Line networks, will significantly improve the city's mobility and contribute to its development as a modern mega-city.