The Lahore Bus Metro System: The Rising Of A New Dawn

                The Lahore Bus Metro System: The Rising Of A New Dawn

Pakistan, Punjab, is going to witness an architectural marvel Rapid Metro Bus System, a truly magnificent project, completed at an estimated cost of 30 billion rupees. 27 kilometer dedicated line built for this system on Ferozpur road Lahore, which is like a river, where hundreds of small streams drain. Pakistan going through worst period of its economic history, faced with worst GDP in the region, rising inflation, energy shortages never witnessed before, resulting in shifting of major industries to countries like Bangladesh.  During this economic crunch, completing such a project in a short span of time, is nothing less than a miracle. Shahbaz Sharif should be given all the credit and accolades for finishing such a mega project, the biggest after 1997 Motor-Way, again built by then PMLN government led by Mian Nawaz Sharif. PMLN pocketing another glory in their long list of credentials, maintaining their track record of starting and finishing the mega projects.

If we go back in history books, this system was envisioned by "Jamie Lerner" in 1972, the Mayor of Curitiba, who was an architect, when elevated to power, he brought the tools of the designer to the office. He planned and developed the system, that could accommodate the growing sprawl and congestion that was beginning to pollute the ever expanding city, also a model which could be replicated in the world. Rapid Bus System became instrumental in fighting sprawl and congestion of the city, Curitiba was declared as "Most Innovative City In The World" By Chairman of Habitat 11, "The United Nations Second Conference On Human Habitat".

 This System has been successfully implemented and operating in Worlds  most influential cities, carrying  100 to 200 million  passengers yearly in Cities like Curitiba (Brazil), Istanbul (Turkey), Mexico City (Mexico), and Santiago (Chile).

I am not going to ponder upon the 27 kilometer long dedicated lane for the Metro Bus System, from Gaju-mata to Shahadra, out of 27 kilometre track, 8.5 km is elevated (one of the largest bridge in the region),  32 overhead bridges have been built along the track, a Station every kilometer, escalators, E-Ticketing System, bus arriving after every three minute, reserved seats for women and handicapped, students will be given special students cards for their travel, advanced information system when next bus is coming, large capacity buses and efficient payment system made for cheaper fares, low emission vehicles with short boarding times reducing passenger exposure to harmful pollutants etc. We shall discuss, why Metro was necessary and why it had to be Lahore .

The Purpose of Metro Bus System is to introduce a safe, efficient, rapid, convenient and Modern system for the masses. Address, the need of Public Transport on the main transportation corridor of the city. Improving the quality of life by saving time lost due to congestion (imagine thousands of hours lost, convert these to years), reduce the number of accidents, minimising noise pollution, producing economic benefits by saving time lost due to congestion, finally most cheapest way of travel.

Now question arises why Lahore was selected by Punjab Government. No doubt, if project would have been started by federal Government or Sindh Government, Karachi should have been given the priority because being the Largest City of the country, with a estimated population of round 20 million, contributing close to 20% of GDP in Pakistan, so Karachi should have been given the first preference. But because the project was envisaged by Punjab Government, Lahore being  the heart of Punjab and hub of economic activity, contributing close to 10-11% of GDP to National Exchequer, growing at a robust pace of 5 - 5.5%, despite country economy facing its worst nightmare in 63 years history. Lahore population is roughly estimated to be 10 to 11 million.

Lahore is going through rapid urbanisation, sheltering millions from across Pakistan, providing jobs to millions, an educational hub, considerably peaceful  than many other cities, where there is no fear of target killings, bhata mafia, extortion's etc. Secondly, if you look into the history of rapid Bus System, Subways and Light Rails are built in economic hub of the Countries. For example London contributes  20% of total UK Economy, Istanbul contributing even higher 22%, similar is the case of big cities in the World. Economy always trickles down from big to small cities.

Another myth created by retarded and backward souls, that Punjab funds are being utilised in Lahore, at the cost of less developed areas is a regrettable fact. Southern Punjab being allocated a percentage higher than its actual share of 31%, indeed a commendable fact, never witnessed in history of Punjab. Few claimed in Social Media, as these buses are gas based and total cast of this project is 70 billion, either they are innocent or behaving as one. These are diesel based low emission vehicles and shorter boarding time reduce passengers exposure to pollutants, secondly the total cost of the project is thirty billion, these buses with all the accessories including escalators, ticketing system, training of staff, backup maintenance system etc. have been provided by Turkish Government as Foreign Direct Investment.

Comprehensive conventional Bus System has been introduced in Major cities of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalpur, Lahore etc. Air Conditioned Buses with reasonable fares, special students cards, Independent Women Pink Buses, Old Age benefit cards scheme etc has been introduced.

Another argument built against Rapid Bus System by some, less intelligent and sick minds, declaring it expensive and under ground train system was  better than Metro. For their knowledge, Rapid Bus transit System built at a cost of 30 billion and in record time of less than a year, normally takes 24 months to build such a gigantic system. If we compare this to under ground Subway Train System which is ten times more costlier, building an under ground  system can drag on to a decade. Secondly you have to dig between 17 to 30 feet, which in countries like Pakistan is not feasible and wise as well. Similarly Light Rails used in European countries is far more cheaper than under ground trains but still four times more costlier than Rapid Bus System.

 Thirty billion cost, I presume is worth it, with minimum of 35 to 125 thousands people travelling via this system daily, maximum 12-36 millions using it over a period of 6 to 12 months, reducing the traveling time from 4 hour to 1 hour. By these estimates it would recover its cost in maximum of 2 to 3 years. Hefty Chunk of this investment coming from Turkey as foreign direct investment. Prior to this Service, only 700 private Buses were available, LTC under private public partnership, planned a systemic induction of 2000 buses in 12 months, hundreds already inducted. Just imagine the impact of Rapid Bus System, would create in a city of 10 to 11 million people.

The popularity of Curitiba's Metro caused a shift from automobile travel to Metro. Based on a study after Metro Induction, a reduction in 27 million auto travel, saving a 27 million liters of fuel annually, 28% of these METRO riders used automobiles previously, if compared to other cities of Brazil, Curitiba uses 30% less fuel, resulting in lowest ambient Air Pollution in the country. This study was carried out in 1991, now the impact  is said to be 50% higher and 195 million people travel on it annually.

An independent control authority has been put in place to run this project like Danish schools and Punjab Educational system, the point to ponder is, that every thing has been kept transparent and institutionalised with no government interference.

Finally, Chief Minster Punjab must be credited and his services must be acknowledged as chief executive of Punjab, he who has given a new hope to those who infested in realisation of a sweet dream, defeating an unbeatable and completing a mission impossible, rising of a new dawn, we must spare some time to watch this historical event unfolding in Lahore. It is definitely a revolution in war torn country, plagued with corruption menace and relieving many from agonising pain of long traffic stuck ups. Hopefully, we all shun our political difference and admire this humongous achievement  by  Punjab and Inshallah by the grace of Allah, the second phase of this project, a 12 km corridor will be started on Multan Road at the end of this year and in other cities of Punjab as well. Let us hope, other Provinces would come forward and initiate such projects, particularly Karachi.