The Punjab government has revealed an ambitious plan to create a Dubai-style elevated expressway in Lahore, aiming to address the chronic traffic congestion of the city and make daily commuting faster and smoother for its residents.
The 4-lane elevated expressway is going to extend from Gulberg to Babu Sabu along main stormwater drain of Lahore. After completion, it is expected to provide benefits more than 70,000 commuters every day, minimizing travel time from Gulberg’s bustling Main Boulevard to the M-2 Motorway to just 10 minutes. For a city where gridlocks have become a part of daily life, this project is being hailed as a game-changer.
Six Interchanges and Seamless Connectivity
The design is composed of 6 major interchanges, along with additional connections to integrate with Lahore’s Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train systems. This integration, officials said, would create a truly interconnected transport network, making public transit more efficient and attractive.
The corridor will pass via some of the busiest neighbourhoods and commercial hubs, including
- Shadman
- Shama Chowk
- Chaudhry Colony
- Gulshan Ravi
- Moon Market, before linking with the Babu Sabu Toll Plaza on the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway.
Eco-Friendly Urban Development
Beyond reducing travel time, the government has emphasized the environmental value of the project. By providing a signal-free corridor, the expressway is expected to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
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Modern features such as
- Landscaped green belts
- Advanced traffic management systems
- Strict safety measures will also be incorporated to enhance its sustainability and visual appeal
Wider Urban Reforms
Housing Secretary Noor ul Amin Mengal, chaired the meeting, and the officials also kept on discussing relocating wholesale markets outside the city to reduce congestion in central Lahore. Plans were also analyzed to establish a latest bus terminal near the motorway, directly linked to the elevated expressway.
Lahore Traffic Decongestion Committee will analyze the project to guarantee accountability, while a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study will be carried out before final ratification by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Senior officials from LDA, WASA Punjab, and Nespak engineers were there in the meeting, depicting the project’s priority in Punjab’s infrastructure development agenda. The expressway is clearly depicting hope for most of the citizens of Lahore—not just for faster commutes, but for a modern and better-connected city.