With the aim to provide safe, efficient and comfortable urban transportation system in the major cities of Punjab; the Government of Punjab has established Punjab Metrobus Authority (PMA) for construction, operation and maintenance of mass transit system.
Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan with estimated population of 10 million. The transport demand recently estimated by Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is 12 million trips, which includes 4 million short walking trips and 8 million motorized trips, on a usual weekday. The number of vehicles registered in Lahore increased sharply from 95 vehicles in 2001 to 238 vehicles in 2008; per 1000 population.
The Lahore Urban Transport Master Plan 2011, prepared by JICA, recommends seven BRT corridors in Lahore. Therefore, in the year 2011, the Government of Punjab appointed “Ulasim” a Turkish based company of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, for preparing the preliminary design of Metrobus System (MBS).
The MBS is planned in integration with Multi-Modal Intercity Bus Terminals (MIBT), one terminal to be established on either side of the corridor, with Park & Ride plazas. The overall transportation map includes integration of Metrobus System & public transport routes, sub-urban railway, LRMTS (other lines), and taxi system in Lahore.
The Metrobus System Line-1 from Gajjumata to Shahdara is established in Lahore, and is the first system to be operated by PMA. MBS Line-1 is approximately 27 KM long running in the North-South direction through the heart of Lahore. Key locations throughout the city are targeted to allow maximum number of citizens from surrounding areas to avail the bus services. Initially, 27 stations were planned and built along the MBS corridor, which have been designed keeping in view the needs of the passengers.
