By Salman Basharat – 02 Lahore Metro Bus Transit System – Project Report 2014 Overview Locale: Lahore, Pakistan Transit type: Rapid transit Number of lines: 4 Number of stations: 60 Operation Began operation: Under construction Operator: Lahore Transport Company Technical System length: 82 km (50.95 mi) Track gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 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. Page 1 of 6 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. Page of 2 of 6 Page of 3 of 6 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 build–operate–transfer 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 Bozdağ, Prime Minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, as well as ambassadors from a number of other countries. The Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, 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, İstanbul Ulaşım (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. Page 4 of 6 Overheating vehicles, May 2013 During late May 2013, the Metrobuses started to develop an over-heating problem as the temperatures in the city crossed 45°C. 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 51°C. 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 city’s 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. Page 5 of 6 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 Punjab’s entire budget has gone towards the metro bus project. Page 6 of 6 .