Pakistan has got its first
metro line. The movement of trains has started on the country's first metro
line in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
There are more than two dozen stations on this 27 kilometer (17-mile) long Orange Line. It will be easy to travel anywhere in the crowded Lahore city. If it takes two and a half hours to go anywhere by bus, then the metro can be reached in just 45 minutes.
Officials expect that about
2.5 lakh people will travel in it every day when the metro is fully
operational.
Punjab State Chief Minister
Osman Bujdar said at the inauguration ceremony on Sunday, "This project
will provide world class facilities to the public in Lahore."
The cost of this project is
300 billion rupees. There was a delay of many years in the completion of this
project and there were many political disputes. But finally on Monday, this
service was started for the common people.
This metro line has been built
with the help of China. In recent years, Pakistan has taken a big loan,
questions about which are increasing.
China has invested billions of
dollars in Pakistan under its Belt and Road initiative, which aims to link the
economies of Asia, Africa and Europe with large infrastructure projects.
Voices were also raised
against this metro project. In fact, many people were worried that due to this
project, some of the most popular places in Lahore, including the World
Heritage Site, Shalimar Gardens, will be damaged. Protests were also held
against this project.
More than 600 trees falling in
the path of this metro line were also cut down.
On the occasion of the
inauguration, Chinese Consul General Long Dingbin described this metro system
as a milestone in the friendship between Pakistan and China.
He said, "I congratulate
the Government of Punjab and the people of Pakistan on this occasion."
China's official news agency
Xinhua described the Orange Line as "the beginning of a new phase for the
South Asian country in the public transport sector".
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