The Punjab government has finalised a comprehensive transport plan to offer free public travel across Lahore during the three-day Basant celebrations, aiming to make movement across the city safer, smoother, and more organised.
The plan has received formal approval from the Lahore Division commissioner and will be implemented from February 6 to 8. Under the arrangement, residents will be able to travel free of cost on major services, including the Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train, along with a wide network of feeder buses and rickshaws.
Officials say the initiative is being carried out jointly by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Punjab Transport Company, and private ride-hailing partners. In addition, buses have been arranged from government colleges and universities to strengthen the transport network during the festivities, when motorbike movement will remain restricted for safety reasons.
According to official details, free transport will be available on 24 routes across Lahore. A total of 228 buses will operate on feeder routes, while 64 buses will run under the Metro Bus Service. Another 54 buses have been arranged from government colleges and 73 from public universities, all dedicated to providing free rides for citizens during Basant.
Capacity estimates suggest that the Orange Line Metro Train alone will be able to carry around 250,000 passengers daily. The Metro Bus Service, operating on the Gajjumata to Shahdara route, is expected to facilitate about 87,000 passengers each day. Feeder routes will have the capacity to serve another 127,000 commuters daily.
Several key routes have been mapped out as part of the plan. These include 13 buses from Rana Town to Railway Station, four from RA Bazaar to Chungi, five from Bhatti Chowk to Shad Bagh, and four from Depot Chowk to Chungi. Twelve buses will operate between Canal and Jinnah Terminal.
Other routes include eight buses from Railway Station to Gulshan Ravi, 11 from Wahdat Road to Qurtaba Chowk, 13 from RA Bazaar to Nasser Bagh, and 19 each on the Old Kahna to RA Bazaar and Bhatta Chowk to RA Bazaar routes. Seventeen buses will also run between Jinnah Bus Terminal and BRB.
In total, authorities estimate that the bus network will provide free travel to around 516,000 people per day. Alongside buses, 5,000 rickshaws operated by a private company will be specially branded and deployed to offer free rides, particularly for short-distance travel.
The district administration says the transport plan has been designed to support safe and controlled celebrations, reduce traffic pressure, and discourage the use of motorcycles.
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