If the Orange Line Metro train had feelings (and existed at this point), I am rather sure it would feel horrible, especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner. Not a lot of people seem to like the upcoming train project. In fact, there have been demonstrations against it, too. Talk about feeling unwanted!
Planned to sport a bright orange exterior, perhaps in a bid to spread cheer and colour in Lahore, the mega project may be on its way to being aborted as there is significant retaliation against it.
Just like an unwanted new baby in a poverty-stricken family, Pakistanis – especially Lahoris – are unable and unwilling to accept or welcome the project enthusiastically. After several protests and numerous court petitions stating that land for the project was being acquired, that the project was harming cultural heritage, or that the project was too expensive and unnecessary for a developing country, the opposition has succeeded in temporarily halting the project.
The grievances of those whose homes and businesses would be affected by the route of the Orange Line Metro train were prominent among all the opposition cries. Hundreds of people came forward to oppose the acquisition of land at allegedly meagre rates and expressed the difficulties of relocating elsewhere. Those who live in the katchi abadi next to the Railway Colony protested over the unfair acquisition of their land a few months ago while residents in areas such as Baghban Pura, Shalamar Gardens, Anarkali, Chauburji, Lakshmi Chowk, and other localities along the train’s route were nowhere near ecstatic either. Needless to say, receiving less than market rate for property or having to go through the ordeal of relocation is definitely not a piece of cake.
Other than this, people panicked about the destruction to heritage sites. Many pointed out how the Orange Line Metro train project’s plan, if it saw fruition, would damage cultural heritage sites, including Shalamar Gardens, the General Post Office building, and Chauburji. Moreover, one cultural heritage site that would definitely have been destroyed is Sangam. Home to the sounds of Afreen Afreen, Tujhe Dilagi Bhool Jani Padegi and several other masterpieces, Sangam was the official studio of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. No words can express what a loss it would be if this studio is not preserved, said the opponents.
Last but not the least, the public outcry against the project emphasised the lack of necessities residents of Lahore deal with. People opposing the project said that as a developing nation we need to focus more upon infrastructural development and the provision of urgent facilities, rather than ride around in an orange train. Hence, the massive amount of money allotted to the Orange Line Metro train project should be allotted to education, safe drinking water, affordable food and shelter, creation of jobs, and an improvement in healthcare facilities, they said.
As the protests indicated, the majority of the public seriously does not see the need for the train, even though it would significantly improve transport facilities. However, the question is this: Is our transportation system our biggest problem or should we prioritise other needs before this? The public seems to have passed its verdict. The issue will now be discussed and debated in the Punjab Assembly in order to arrive at a conclusion.
All we can say is that we hope it is a happy ending for all!
And that’s all folks! Do you have something to say regarding the Orange Line Metro train project? Share your opinions with me in the comments section below.
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If i have to pay the electricity bills, mortgage, children’s tuition, grocery bills and i have very limited income – the last thing I would do is buy a shiny orange Mercedes.
Thank you for your comment. There is definitely a lot to consider regarding this project.
Regards,
Anam
I am neither in favor nor against the project.
But a very valid question that we should be asking is this:
1) In case this project is shelved, what the government should do with the costs that have already been incurred on this project along with the damages that have already occurred to Lahore’s Infrastructure?
Everything has associated costs and government officials should be wise enough to consider all factors before embarking on such big projects.
Thank you for your comment! That is a very interesting and relevant perspective. As far as the project has come, there are likely to be many opportunity costs if the project is shelved. The problems associated with this project should be given due consideration.
Regards,
Anam
Agreed to the core. But my point being that whatever the outcome is, ultimately its the tax payers money that will be on the line. BTW majority of tax payers belong to salary paid middle class people.
Either way the “awam” has to bear the cost. Government will lose nothing!
God bless our country!!!
The project will result in speedy, comfortable and economical transport facilities to citizens and will revolutionise the transport system of the city.
Shahbaz said the metro train project was a unique project, adding that 26 stations would be constructed on its route, and more than 200,000 people would make of use of it daily
The train will operate at a loss. Read the newspapers today. The government itself has announced that the metro bus service is operating at a 5 million daily loss which translates to a 1.8 billion annual loss. Turkey launched the metro bus services three decades ago and recovered its costs in 13 months.
Why we don’t need? We need it. People are also opposing metro bus project but what is happening now? A lot of people’s are going by metro buses. Just stop opposing without knowing the outcomes. Atleast if some development is happening in Pakistan which must be done before but our people like those govt who just sits and eats peoples money and do nothing. Now we can cover distances in few minutes which previously we needs hours to cover. Hence you all must support govt. As far as other areas are concerned these are also improving. Don’t just blame govt. We should change ourselves 1st.
Thanks.
The project should be successful i.e. revenues should be higher than the cost of the project. What’s the use of a loss making project that we will have to keep funding for the rest of its life. Example: PIA
As per my opinion, Its better to remove metro buses and same roads to be used for orange train. In this way no more destruction will take place and ppl will be facilitated as well.
Metro bus track was meant for train. Due to elections, it was decided to operate buses on the path for time being. Lahore master plan carries 4 distinct rail tracks. Orange line is one of them. There is no train per se. These are just trams. All of these plans were conceived during Pervez Elahi regime.
We are a strange nation. We would spend millions of $ a year on UPS/genset backup but refuse to pay our electricity bills. We spend billions of $ per year for fuel/vehicle but do not demand a rapid mass transit system.
The project can not stop / fail. Govt. is playing catch with protesters in the hind sight. Most of these so-called victims are illegal settlers with fake fard/registry which cant be verified any more. They deserve no compensation. Its their handlers who shall hit a jackpot. During the whole circus, a ton of money shall be rewarded to land mafia of Lhr for political gains.
A ‘fierce’ opposition is shown only to raise the wager. Did anybody read on bbcurdu that one could hire a protesting crowd and use it for any legal/illegal objective?
Lahore Orange Train metro is a great project. Those against it have some valid points but metros can only be built in dense cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi.
When we see developed countries, they are not making metro trains in villages and deserts. They also constructed metro projects to ease the load of traffic in heavy population cities like Tokyo, New York, London. Even UK made an underground metro from London to Paris.
I will prefer that we should favor such projects as they will easy burden of traffic and will add good look to our country’s distorted image.
There is no harm in undertaking the project. It will certainly be beneficial to general public. However, the provincial government must announce a clear and a justified compensation package to the affectees and ensure their rehabilitation as well. Justice must prevail with literally no sign of nepotism.
We all are in the process of learning as far as the national development is concerned and hope that the fertile brains would learn the good things quickly.
Nonsense logon kay sahi kaam bhi stupidity say bharay huay…
I would say there is a massive need for mass transport in the prime metropolitan cities. But first try to create a need and feeling for the need. People who has little money can bring their own private transport on the road, and it starts from cycle and goes to trucks.
Whereas government officials they are lacking in their planing to create a feeling for such a public mass transport system need.
People with their own private transport why they will be in favour of such projects? Unless there is no such enforcement from government is in place that after having a vehicle you still need to bear additional costs other then fuel, like Parking charges, congestion charges in populated areas and where there is public transport is available. From Govt except cyclists for private vehicle owners additional taxes based on the value of a vehicle should be in place and drivers must have strong passed license after failing 10 times in driving tests, Every driver should be insured on the vehicle so that in case if he hits someone or pedestrian should be compensated and the driver has to pay large amounts on monthly for insurance, Road tax for the car and after every year he has to clear his vehicle for low carbon emission to keep the atmosphere pollution free. Even having all these things in place driver should be always in fear of having cancelled his license if he commit some swear mistake dangerous for himself or for the other road users.
And as an alternative if you have mass transport system in place for which only you have to buy a ticket and with comfort you reach at your destination safely and stress free then I will see who oppose such beneficial projects.
But thing is our government officials and DMGs (DCs, and commissioners etc) they work on projects like a head less chicken who is just running but without having view in front. That’s the reason they are lacking in their planning. Planning should be like create a need not just full fill the need…
The country with massive electricity and Gas load shedding, paralyzing the country, should not think about orange train or metro bus. Its only purpose is to make the contractor super rich while making the country dead. Musharaf said a project of 116 billion rupees was placed in front of him, he said the amount is very high, it was revised and made up to 96 billion rupees. he handed over the project to frontier works organization, and they completed it in just 16 billion rupees. I am sure this is what happening in these orange train and metro bus. Only God is saving Pakistan.