LAHORE: The Punjab government has finalized a free transport plan for Lahore’s Basant festivities, enabling citizens to travel without cost on Metro Buses, Orange Line Trains, and other vehicles.
The Lahore Division Commissioner has approved the scheme, with the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Punjab Transport Company, and private ride-hailing services collaborating on its implementation. To meet the city’s needs, buses from government colleges and universities will also be utilized.
Free transport will cover 24 city routes, using 228 feeder buses, 64 Metro Buses, 54 college buses, and 73 university buses. Roughly 250,000 passengers are expected on the Orange Line daily, with Metro Buses serving 87,000 and feeder routes accommodating 127,000 commuters.
Key routes include connections like Rana Town to Railway Station, RA Bazar to Chungi, Bhatti Chowk to Shadbagh, and Jinnah Terminal to BRB Canal. Other operational paths include Railway Station to Gulshan-e-Ravi, Wahdat Road to Qurtaba Chowk, and Bhatti Chowk to RA Bazar.
Overall, the plan targets facilitating around 516,000 passengers daily on buses, with 5,000 branded rickshaws also offering free rides during the celebrations.
