The Good, Bad and Ugly of Lahore Metro

Ibn Azhar on 13, Feb 2013 | 32 Comments | in Category: Insight

515 89 24 8254

Ibn Azhar
Ibn Azhar

7 Reasons for Pakistani Women to Vote This Time

Shoe-Cide Attacks
On Traffic and Taxes

Rate this blog:

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(average:3.13 out of 5)

lahore metro

What is with Sharif familys indefatigable obsession with transport, more

elaborately, means of transport? First, they pioneered the yellow cab taxi scheme
in early 90s that called for rounds of applause. Then, in late 90s, famous
Lahore-Islamabad motorway hit the headlines and this time Lahore Metro is one
scintillating star.

Interestingly, all of the above mentioned projects spear headed by Sharif brothers
created much stir and hype among the masses and classes. Where, these flagship
projects of PML (N) were applauded by one segment of society while at the same time
invited massive criticism from various quarters depending upon their bend of mind.

However, as a resident of Lahore and a keen observer I had seen the Lahore Metro
Project unfolding before my eyes like a giant coiled python made of steel and
cement.

Out of about 10 million residents, the project must have agitated each resident of
Lahore at least once in its eleven-month construction time. So, naturally, there
are a few good, bad and ugly facets of the project. Lets evaluate them as per our
own individual discretion:-

Lahore Metro: Five Good Things:

1. Self Esteem of Public Talk about the humiliating experience old Lahore
transport most of the times. With the coming Lahore Metro, common people
specially the middle and lower middle class, students and women would be able to
travel in a much more dignified manner.

2. An International Outlook Well it would be rather unjust to compare 27 km of

Lahore metro with about 100 km metro bus track of Tehran or 170 km of Jakarta.
There is hardly a doubt that he project has put Pakistan in the list of about 36
countries that uses Bus Rapid Transit system including Brazil, India and Turkey.

3. Facilitation for the masses This being the sole purpose of this project is
probably the best thing about Lahore Metro. An extension of a service like this to
the masses is bound to facilitate millions over due course of time.

4. A Model to follow If successful, the Lahore Metro Project has all the
potential to become a transportation role model for replication in other major
cities of the Punjab like Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan.

Also the project is likely to increase the pressure on other provincial governments
to come up with similar solutions. This can give rise to a healthy and desperately
needed completion among the provincial governments.

5. Lightening Pace of the Project The project took almost eleven months to
reach completion from the drawing board till appearance on ground. The pace of
project was quite impressive for the deputy prime minister of Turkey who expressed
his views on the inauguration day.

For governments, it gives them an indication that where there is a will there is a
way. It proves the capability of local contractors and builders as well as public
gets the clear message they can do it if they want to.
Lahore Metro: Five Bad Things:

Procy Project: The cost of the project that is somewhere between 20 to 40

billion Rupees is a big question mark. With such a hefty heavy price tag was the
project worth executing and Will the return on investment be as per the
expectations ? These questions that could be answered in about six months time
when analysis could be built upon available data.

A Sense of Deprivation among other cites /Provinces

Jealousy, my friends, jealousy. A massive project of this kind is definitely bound

to ring bells in the residents of other provincial capitals as well as large
cities. This can also induce a sense of deprivation especially among people of KPK
and Baluchistan province.

3. A road with no name It is unfortunate that till the time of its

inauguration the road/route didnt have a name of its own. Although quite a large
portion of this road goes along Feroz pur road of Lahore but with Gajumata at one
end and Shahdra at the other road criss crosses all the major portions of the city
and should have a name of its own. A suggested name could be to name it after some
low waged laborer through a draw.

4. The Maintenance, Security and Safety Aspects Electricity for escalators as

well the security of buses would be a massive and important task. Unfortunately, a
metro bus met a minor accident on the very first day and this raises concerns about
the safety aspects. If theses administrative aspects are not handled with
responsibility they can jeopardize the whole project in due course of time.

5. Not the Best Option A Rapid Bus Transit System is definitely not the best
option. Setting aside the budgetary constraints an underground massive railway
system on the lines of London Underground or New York Subway would have been a
much better proposition. Alternatively an overhead railway metro system (which was
probably perceived earlier) could have longer life, less maintenance and speedy
journey.

Lastly, the ugly thing about the project is that by no means it is an aesthetically
pleasing venture. Although much cosmetic efforts has been done to address this
aspect through excessive plantation, cleanliness and illumination etc however the
unattractive steel fence along the entire length and a long winding road; hanging
over the heads casting long shadows does not offer a very pleasant sight.

Lahore Metro is definitely a utility but not a beauty.