Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Chief Minister of Punjab, has approved the purchase of 513 hybrid electric buses to improve Lahore’s mass transit system.
The chief minister presided over the 19th Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) meeting at his office and ordered additional buses for city feeder routes. He also directed expanding the Speedo feeder bus service from Lahore to Sheikhupura and Muridke to serve the city’s outskirts.
The CM resurrected the Punjab Transport Company and authorised the repair and purchase of new Pakistan Metro Bus system buses in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Moreover, the CM directed the PMTA to maintain the Bahawalpur-Lodhran bus service and add 12 buses. He also directed that eight new Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) stations be built and the Lahore Metro Bus system be improved.
Elahi chose Rawalpindi Waste Management Company to clean Pakistan Metro Bus Services in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He also approved, in principle, the operation of electric buses in Lahore. The CM has also directed purchasing of more buses for a separate feeder route project.
According to sources, Kalma Chowk, one of Lahore’s main business intersections, was closed to traffic again a few days back. The city has begun to report road traffic problems due to the construction work. The cause of the congestion, according to City Traffic Police (CTP), is remodelling work.
Dr. Assad Malhi, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) in Lahore, has warned people not to take that route and has suggested the following alternatives:
To get from Barkat Market to Liberty Market, people must take a left at Kalma Chowk, then a U-turn at Muslim Town Morr, and finally pass through Gaddafi Stadium.
Similarly, Model Town traffic heading to Liberty Market will go straight to Muslim Town Morr, make a U-turn, and enter the market through the stadium.
Those travelling from Firdaus Market to Liberty Market or Main Boulevard, Gulberg, must take Hussain Chowk.
The current duration of the ongoing work is still being determined. For the time being, authorities have advised daily commuters to take alternate routes to avoid daily traffic jams.