M-2 (Pakistan)

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M-2

ایم ٢ موٹروے
لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے
Route information
Part of AH 1 AH 4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length375 km (233 mi)
Existed1997–present
Major junctions
North endPakistan M-1.svg Islamabad
Major intersectionsPakistan M-4.svg M-4 Motorway Interchange
Pakistan M-3.svg M-3 Motorway Interchange
Pakistan L-20.svg Babu Sabu Interchange
South endPakistan N-5.svg Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
Location
CountryPakistan
Major citiesChakwal
Mandi Bahauddin
Kallar Kahar
Bhalwal
Pindi Bhattian
Sheikhupura
Kot Abdul Malik
Highway system

The M-2 Motorway or the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway (Urdu: 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$2.8 billion in 2023) 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 motorway passing through the Salt Range

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
Interchange Junction West bound exits East bound exits
M-2 Zero Point, Lahore Motorway-Exit-1.svg Start of motorway Road continues as Abdul Sattar Edhi Road to Lahore
N-5 – to Multan N-5 – to Lahore, Canal Bank Road to Lahore
Babu Sabu Interchange Motorway-Exit-2.svg Band Road to Chowk Yatim Khana, Lahore Ring Road {Band Road to Chowk Yatim Khana, Lahore Ring Road
M-3 Lahore-Abdul Hakeem M-3 – Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway M-3 – Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway
Faiz Pure Interchange Motorway-Exit-3.svg Lahore-Jaranwala Road to Jaranwala Lahore-Jaranwala Road to Shahdara Town, Lahore
Kot Abdul Malik Interchange Motorway-Exit-4.svg N-60 – to Sheikhupura N-60 – to Lahore
Kala Shah Kaku Interchange Motorway-Exit-5.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5 Provincial Highways of Punjab to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5
Sheikhupura Interchange Motorway-Exit-6.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Sheikhupura Provincial Highways of Punjab to Gujranwala
Hiran Minar Interchange Motorway-Exit-7.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura Provincial Highways of Punjab to Jandiala Sher Khan
Khanqah Dogran Interchange Motorway-Exit-8.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Khanqah Dogran Provincial Highways of Punjab to Hafizabad
Sukheki Interchange Motorway-Exit-9.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Sukheki Provincial Highways of Punjab to Hafizabad
M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan M-4 – Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway M-4 – Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway
Pindi Bhattian Interchange Motorway-Exit-11.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Pindi Bhattian, Chiniot & Jhang Provincial Highways of Punjab to Wazirabad
Makhdoom Interchange Motorway-Exit-12.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Sial More & Sargodha Provincial Highways of Punjab to Phalia & Gujrat
Kot Momin Interchange Motorway-Exit-13.svg Kot Momin, Bhalwal Bhabra
Saalam Interchange Motorway-Exit-14.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Bhalwal, Sargodha Provincial Highways of Punjab to Mandi Bahauddin
Bhera Interchange Motorway-Exit-15.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Jhawarian, Shahpur Provincial Highways of Punjab to Bhera, Malakwal
Lilla Interchange Motorway-Exit-16.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Lilla Town, Khushab Provincial Highways of Punjab to Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum
Kallar Kahar Interchange Motorway-Exit-17.svg Kallar Kahar Choa Saidanshah, Katas Raj Temples
Balkasar Interchange Motorway-Exit-18.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Balkassar, Talagang Provincial Highways of Punjab to Chakwal
Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2 Motorway-Exit-19.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Neela Provincial Highways of Punjab to Basti Abdullah & Bhagwal
Chakri Interchange Motorway-Exit-20.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Chakri Provincial Highways of Punjab to Rawalpindi
Thalian Interchange Motorway-Exit-21.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to New Islamabad Airport Provincial Highways of Punjab to Thalian
M-2-M1 Junction, Islamabad Motorway-Exit-22.svg Provincial Highways of Punjab to Islamabad/Rawalpindi Provincial Highways of Punjab to Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Road continues as M-1 to Peshawar Start of M-2

Fuel stations and Service Areas

Kallar kahar service area on M-2

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

  • Sukheki Services Area - سکھیکی قیام و طعام
  • Sial Services Area - سیال قیام و طعام
  • Bhera Services Area – بھیرہ قیام و طعام
  • Kalar Kahar Services Area - کلر کہار قیام و طعام
  • Chakri Services Area - چکری قیام و طعام

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:

Gallery

  • M-2 Motorway on a sunny afternoon

    M-2 Motorway on a sunny afternoon

  • M-2 Motorway approaching Islamabad

    M-2 Motorway approaching Islamabad

  • The Motorway on a clear day

    The Motorway on a clear day

  • Near the Salt Range

    Near the Salt Range

  • The Motorway in the evening

    The Motorway in the evening

See also

References

  1. ^ Malik, Ahmad Rashid (2008-09-03). M2- Motorway Pakistan-Japan Relations: Continuity and Change in Economic Relations and Security Interests. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-04196-1.
  2. ^ "Lahore-Islamabad Motorway". 70 Years of Impact : SMEC. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  3. ^ PAF Conducts Fighter Operations From Motorway Pakistan Air Force website, Published 2 April 2010, Retrieved 10 October 2021
  4. ^ "Unregistered vehicles queued after mandatory imposition of M-tag on motorway". Dunya News. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  5. ^ Motorway cost exceeds Rs60 billion Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 December 2002, Retrieved 10 October 2021
  6. ^ "November 26, 1997: New motorway opens in Pakistan". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  7. ^ Alistair Scrutton (16 December 2009). "Failed state? Try Pakistan's M2 motorway". Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
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