M-2 motorway (Pakistan)

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M–2 Motorway shield}}
M–2 Motorway
ایم ٢ موٹروے
لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length375 km (233 mi)
Existed1997–present
Major junctions
North endKashmir Highway Interchange, Islamabad
Major intersectionsM-3
M-4
South endThokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
Location
Major citiesChakwal
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. 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. The motorway is also a part of the Asian Highway AH1.

One of the most expensive motorways in Asia, it also has the one of the highest pillared-bridges in Asia at the Khewra Salt Range section.[1]

There are ten service and rest areas on both sides of the whole motorway, having facilities of Insta-fueling, Insta-Carwash, Insta-car repair and fast food restaurants such as KFC, McDonald's and Gloria Jean's Coffees among others. [2]

In 2016, the entire motorway was re-carpeted and resurfaced - work that stretched over several months. New toll plazas have been installed on every interchange, and tolls are payable with a new M-tag system introduced in December 2021.[3]

History[]

The M-2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term (1990–1993). The contract was awarded to M/s Daewoo Corporation 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 at Libor plus one interest to meet 40 per cent of the project cost, r payable in 21 semi-annual equal instalments. The loan was revised to $654 milliotion touched $702 million.[4]

The motorway was inaugurated on November 26, 1997, during Sharif's second term.[5] 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.[6] 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. After 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 the twin cities with Peshawar

The whole stretch of the M-2 consists of 6 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 to Chowk Yatim Khana, LRR to Chowk Yatim Khana, LRR
M-3 Karachi-Lahore Sinnbild Autobahnausfahrt.svg KLM  M-3 – Karachi-Lahore Motorway M-3 – Karachi-Lahore 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 Lahore Bypass to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5 Lahore Bypass to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5
Sheikhupura Interchange Motorway-Exit-6.svg Gujranwala–Sheikhupura Road to Sheikhupura Gujranwala–Sheikhupura Road to Gujranwala
Hiran Minar Interchange Motorway-Exit-7.svg Jandiala–Sheikhupura Road to Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura Jandiala–Sheikhupura Road to Jandiala Sher Khan
Khanqah Dogran Interchange Motorway-Exit-8.svg Khanqah Dogran Road to Khanqah Dogran Khanqah Dogran Road to Hafizabad
Sukheki Interchange Motorway-Exit-9.svg Hafizabad-Sukheki Road to Sukheki Hafizabad-Sukheki Road to Hafizabad
M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan Sinnbild Autobahnausfahrt.svg Mltn  M-4 – Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway M-4 – Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway
Pindi Bhattian Interchange Motorway-Exit-11.svg Wazirabad Road to Pindi Bhattian, Chiniot & Jhang Wazirabad Road to Wazirabad
Makhdoom Interchange Motorway-Exit-12.svg Sial-Phalia Road to Sial More & Sargodha Sial-Phalia Road to Phalia & Gujrat
Kot Momin Interchange Motorway-Exit-13.svg Kot Momin, Bhalwal Bhabra
Saalam Interchange Motorway-Exit-14.svg Sargodha-Gujrat Road to Bhalwal, Sargodha Sargodha-Gujrat Road to Mandi Bahauddin
Bhera Interchange Motorway-Exit-15.svg Bhera-Jhawarian Road to Jhawarian, Shahpur Bhera-Jhawarian Road to Bhera, Malakwal
Lilla Interchange Motorway-Exit-16.svg Pind Dadan Khan-Lilla Road to Lilla Town, Khushab Pind Dadan Khan-Lilla Road 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 Talagang-Chakwal Road to Balkassar, Talagang Talagang-Chakwal Road to Chakwal
Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2 Motorway-Exit-19.svg Neela-Basti Abdullah Road to Neela Neela-Basti Abdullah Road to Basti Abdullah and Bhagwal
Chakri Interchange Motorway-Exit-20.svg Chakri Road to Chakri Chakri Road to Rawalpindi
Thalian Interchange Motorway-Exit-21.svg Airport Avenue to New Islamabad Airport Thalian Road to Thalian
M-2-M1 Junction, Islamabad Motorway-Exit-22.svg Islamabad Motorways Link Road to Islamabad/Rawalpindi Islamabad Motorways Link Road to Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Road continues as M-1 to Peshawar Start of M-2

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 Area (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 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 following services/amenities on each side of the location:

Gallery[]

  • Ravi Toll Plaza, Lahore

  • The Motorway on a misty morning

  • The Motorway on a clear day

  • Near the Salt Range

  • The Motorway in the evening

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Lahore-Islamabad Motorway". 70 Years of Impact : SMEC. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ PAF Conducts Fighter Operations From Motorway Pakistan Air Force website, Published 2 April 2010, Retrieved 10 October 2021
  3. ^ "Unregistered vehicles queued after mandatory imposition of M-tag on motorway". Dunya News. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ Motorway cost exceeds Rs60 billion Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 December 2002, Retrieved 10 October 2021
  5. ^ "November 26, 1997: New motorway opens in Pakistan". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  6. ^ 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.

External links[]

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