L ahore has long enjoyed the luxury of modern transport systems, including the Metro bus and the Orange Line train. Now, the Transport Department is aiming higher with an ambitious plan to introduce a high-speed rail link between Lahore and Rawalpindi. If approved, this groundbreaking project is expected to cost around $1.
6 billion. The train promises to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. Muhammad Irfan, an engineer with Nespak, is one of the many who is awaiting the day this project becomes a reality.
“I currently visit my family in Rawalpindi twice a month because the journey is exhausting,” he says. “If this train can travel at 250 km/ h, I could be in Rawalpindi in less than two hours.” For many like Irfan, the high-speed rail project could transform their routines and connect loved ones more easily.
Long road ahead However, there is a long way to go before anyone boards this fast train. Although the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department has submitted a proposal for the project to the chief minister, it will require extensive planning and substantial investment. Ahmed Javed Qazi, the Transport and Mass Transit Department secretary, says that while the project can be a game-changer, the plan is far from complete.
“We are in the early stages of planning. A project like this requires meticulous preparation to ensure that it is safe and efficient,” he says. Once completed, the high-speed rail project will make Lahore and Rawalpindi the.
