M-2 motorway (Pakistan) explained

Country:PAK
Type:M
Route:2
Map Custom:yes
Length Km:375
Direction A:North
Direction B:South
Terminus A: Islamabad
Cities:Chakwal
Mandi Bahauddin
Kallar Kahar
Bhalwal
Pindi Bhattian
Sheikhupura
Kot Abdul Malik
Terminus B: Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
Established:1997
Junction: M-4 Motorway Interchange
M-3 Motorway Interchange
Babu Sabu Interchange
Maint:National Highway Authority

The M-2 Motorway or the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے) is a north–south motorway in Pakistan, connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Lahore, and is the first motorway to have been built in South Asia.[1] The M-2 is 375 km long and located entirely in Punjab. It continues on to eventually become the M-1 motorway, which terminates in Peshawar. The M-2 crosses the junction of M-4 (to Faisalabad) at Pindi Bhattian and M-3 (to Multan) at Dera Saithan Wala. The motorway is also a part of the Asian Highway AH1. The motorway was constructed during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's rule and cost over Rs. 60 billion (equivalent to US$ billion in) and was opened in November 1997. One of the most expensive motorways in Asia, it also has one of the highest pillared-bridges in Asia at the Khewra Salt Range section.[2]

There are ten service and rest areas on both sides of the motorway, with fueling, car wash, and car-repair facilities, and fast-food restaurants such as KFC, McDonald's, and Gloria Jean's Coffees, among others.[3]

In 2016, the entire motorway was resurfaced—work that stretched over several months. New toll plazas were installed on every interchange. They are payable with a new M-tag system that was introduced in December 2021.[4]

History

The M-2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term (1990–1993). The contract was awarded to Daewoo Group of South Korea on 30 December 1991 at a cost of Rs. 23,686 billion on a design-cum-construct basis. The original contract was for a four-lane facility.

Daewoo provided a loan of $379 million as supplier's credit, covering 40% of the construction cost. The loaned amount would eventually grow to $702 million. The other 60% of the cost would be paid by the government.[5]

The motorway was inaugurated on November 26, 1997, during Sharif's second term.[6] In late 2006, upgrades were made to the portion of the M-2 passing through the Salt Range due to increasing complaints of drivers. The upgrades included better marking of the road lines and increased size of road signs for easy visibility.[7] In 2016, the M-2 motorway was resurfaced for a smooth and safer drive.

Route

The M-2 starts to the west of Lahore, at the Thokar Niaz Baig junction of N-5 (National Highway No. 5). Once it crosses the Ravi River, it diverges from the N-5 (also known as GT or Grand Trunk Road) and heads west towards Sheikhupura. After passing the Sheikhupura Interchange, the Khanqah Dogran Interchange comes at a distance of 36 km from the Sheikhupura Interchange. Once at Pindi Bhattian, it crosses the M-4 junction and turns north-west. It continues all the way to Kallar Kahar, where it enters the Salt Ranges. Once past the Salt Range, the M-2 turns north and ends just west of Rawalpindi at the junction between the Islamabad Link Road and M-1. It then continues on to eventually become the M-1 motorway, linking Islamabad and Rawalpindi with Peshawar.

The whole stretch of the M-2 consists of six lanes, and there are a number of rest areas along the route, with washroom and eating facilities.

Interchanges

M-2 Motorway Junctions
InterchangeJunctionWest bound exitsEast bound exits
M-2 Zero Point, LahoreStart of motorwayRoad continues as Abdul Sattar Edhi Road to Lahore
, to Lahore
Babu Sabu Interchange to Chowk Yatim Khana, to Chowk Yatim Khana,
M-3 Lahore-Abdul Hakeem
Faiz Pure Interchange to Jaranwala to Shahdara Town, Lahore
Kot Abdul Malik Interchange
Kala Shah Kaku Interchange to Kala Shah Kaku & to Kala Shah Kaku &
Sheikhupura Interchange to Sheikhupura to Gujranwala
Hiran Minar Interchange to Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura to Jandiala Sher Khan
Khanqah Dogran Interchange to Khanqah Dogran to Hafizabad
Sukheki Interchange to Sukheki to Hafizabad
M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan
Pindi Bhattian Interchange to Pindi Bhattian, Chiniot & Jhang to Wazirabad
Makhdoom Interchange to Sial More & Sargodha to Phalia & Gujrat
Kot Momin Interchange Kot Momin, BhalwalBhabra
Saalam Interchange to Bhalwal, Sargodha to Mandi Bahauddin
Bhera Interchange to Jhawarian, Shahpur to Bhera, Malakwal
Lilla Interchange to Lilla Town, Khushab to Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum
Kallar Kahar Interchange Kallar KaharChoa Saidanshah, Katas Raj Temples
Balkasar Interchange to Balkassar, Talagang to Chakwal
Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2 to Neela to Basti Abdullah & Bhagwal
Chakri Interchange to Chakri to Rawalpindi
Thalian Interchange to New Islamabad Airport to Thalian
M-2-M1 Junction, Islamabad to Islamabad/Rawalpindi to Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Road continues as to PeshawarStart of

Fuel stations and Service Areas

Fuel Stations are only available at 5 locations on each side of the road (North & South), These places are called Services Areas (or)

These services areas are on both sides of the roads, as crossing from inside the motorway is not possible. While coming from Lahore to Islamabad, the Services Areas are called North Sides (going towards north) whereas coming back towards Lahore the services areas are called South Sides (going towards South Side). For example, Sukheki North Service Area is when a traveller is coming from Lahore to Islamabad, while Sukheki South Services Area is found when going towards Lahore.Average distance between any two service areas is 60–80 km.

Rest areas

Other than Services Areas for the facilities of commuters, the FWO has granted licences for Rest Areas with some basic services. The Rest Areas are being operated by private investors under the supervision of Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Bake & Bite is operating these Rest Areas. Moreover, the Rest Areas contain the following services/amenities on each side of the location:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Malik, Ahmad Rashid . M2- Motorway Pakistan-Japan Relations: Continuity and Change in Economic Relations and Security Interests . 2008-09-03 . Routledge . 978-1-134-04196-1 . en.
  2. Web site: Lahore-Islamabad Motorway. 2022-01-06. 70 Years of Impact : SMEC. en-US.
  3. https://www.paf.gov.pk/press_release/uploaded/MOTORWAY-RELEASE02-04-10.pdf PAF Conducts Fighter Operations From Motorway
  4. Web site: Unregistered vehicles queued after mandatory imposition of M-tag on motorway. 2022-01-06. Dunya News.
  5. https://www.dawn.com/news/70302 Motorway cost exceeds Rs60 billion
  6. Web site: November 26, 1997: New motorway opens in Pakistan. 2022-01-06. gulfnews.com. en.
  7. News: Failed state? Try Pakistan's M2 motorway. 16 December 2009. 25 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100225112759/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-failed-state-try-pakistans-m2-motorway-zj-06 . Dawn (newspaper). Alistair Scrutton. 10 October 2021.