Public transport network fails to accommodate commuters

Lack of travel options to far-flung areas have forced locals to rely on private vehicles, transportation apps

LAHORE:

For the average low-income citizen travelling long distances every day to reach their workplace, having to spend nearly half a day’s earnings on commute alone is nothing short of a tragedy yet as the public transportation network of the provincial capital fails to keep up with the growing population, countless locals share the misery of chasing buses, rickshaws and private cabs under the scorching summer sun.

Despite the introduction of the Metro Bus, Speedo Bus and Orange Line, the life of the impoverished citizens remains miserable due to a lack of public transport in the city, which has compelled them to wait for hours in the hopes of finding a cheap travel option since the public transport network has no direct links with the relatively far-flung areas of the city like Jubilee Town, Valencia Town, Raiwind, Bedian and Defence Housing Authority (DHA). As a result, people, including employees and students have no choice but to travel in rickshaws or private online cabs and bikes, which demand hefty fares for even small journeys.

For instance, Musharraf Chaudhary, a resident of Gulberg Naseerabad has to travel to Gulberg Main Boulevard for his job. “Even after I cover some of the distance on foot, the motorcycle ride service charges Rs150, while a taxi charges up to Rs400 for travel within the locality.

Similarly, Adnan Ejaz, an employee from Manawan has to take multiple rides every day before he finally reaches his office in Muslim Town. “I first board a train from Harbanspora to Anarkali in order to reach the Orange Line. After travelling in the Orange Line, I reach my destination by a rickshaw,” he shared.

Abdul Rafi, a first-year student at a college in Shadman, also revealed that in the absence of a public transport facility, he has to rely on multiple private rides to reach his university from his house at Thokar. “During the scorching summer heat, I have to change three Qingqi rides besides walking at regular intervals. Due to this, I reach home very late in the evening,” revealed Rafi, who further demanded that the government invest in cheap and quality transport facilities for the people.

On a separate note, Naila, a mother, who has to take her ailing daughter for weekly checkups to the Mayo Hospital from Garhi Shahu, narrated the plight of her journey. “Since there are no public transportation options available, I have to take several Qing Qi rickshaws to reach the hospital. The total fare costs me Rs200 to Rs250 per person. Given the high costs of travel, people refrain to visit even their relatives nowadays,” shrugged Naila, who felt that the provincial government’s discontinuation of the pink buses had further aggravated low-income women’s travel woes.

“Due to the lack of public transport in Lahore, people have to rely on private vehicles and rides all the time, leading to an increase in the number of combustion vehicles on roads. This will aggravate the smog crisis in the city,” opined Sheikh Akbar Ali, an expert in town planning and construction, who went on to add that a mass transit system with well-dispersed routes was the need of the hour in Lahore.

According to Azam Niazi, the owner of a private transport company, the government’s discontinuation of subsidies for buses run by the private sector had magnified the current shortage of public transport options to far-flung areas. “800 buses had to be sold due to the government not offering monetary relief to the sector,” revealed Niazi.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, the spokesman of the Transport Department announced, “The government is introducing environment-friendly electric buses soon. Apart from this, after the Orange train, two more lines, the Purple and Blue Lines are in the pipeline. Moreover, buses will also be brought in phases to solve the transport issues facing Lahore.”