M-4 motorway (Pakistan)
M–4 Motorway | |
---|---|
ایم ٤ موٹروے | |
موٹروے 4 | |
Route information | |
Maintained by National Highway Authority | |
Length | 309 km[1] (192 mi) |
Existed | 2019–present |
History | 2003 |
Major junctions | |
North end | Pindi Bhattian M2 |
South end | Multan M5 |
Location | |
Major cities |
|
Highway system | |
The M4 (Urdu: موٹروے 4) is a north–south motorway in Pakistan that connects the cities of Faisalabad and Multan. The 309 km motorway also connects to the M2, M3 and M5 motorways.[2][3]
History[]
The M4 Motorway was planned as part of Pakistan's Motorway Network from Faisalabad to Multan. The ground breaking ceremony of the project was carried out by then president of pakistan parveez Musharraf in 2007. At that time already constructed motorway from Faisalabad to Pindi Bhattian was named as M3 Motorway, sometimes it was referred to as shortest motorway of Pakistan. However, in 2013, when Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister of Pakistan, another motorway from Lahore to Darkhana (Abdul Hakeem) was planned under CPEC to provide an alternate route for traffic coming to & from Lahore, bounded for Multan & subsequently up till Karachi so as to avoid/ reduce congestion over already existing N-5. This new motorway was designated as M3 Motorway (Lahore Abdul Hakeem Motorway) & the previously named M3 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad) was merged with Faisalabad Multan Motorway & the entire stretch from Pindi Bhattian to Multan was named as M4 Motorway (Pindi Bhattian- Faisalabad- Multan Motorway).[2]
Inauguration[]
The M4 Motorway (Faisalabad to Multan section) was inaugurated in parts, first being Faisalabad to Gojra, second was Multan to Khanewal (Shamkot), third being Gojra to Shorkot, fourth was Shorkot to Abdul Hakeem ( Shorkot to Abdul Hakeem became operational almost together with Lahore Abdul Hakeem (Darkhana) Motorway) & finally Abdul Hakim (Deen Pur) to Khanewal (Shamkot). The last section of M4 Motorway (Abdul Hakeem to Khanewal) was inaugurated by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The M4 Motorway was completed successfully by the end of 2019.[4]
Pindi Bahttian to Faisalabad section of M4 Motorway was inaugurated in Year 2003.[2]
Route[]
The M4 begins near the M2 Pindi Bhattian Interchange and continues on a southwest course connecting the cities of Faisalabad, Gojra, Toba Tek Singh, Shorkot, Abdul Hakeem, Khanewal and Multan. And ends at Sher Shah Interachange giving exit to Multan Cantt over Shujabaad Road & itself continues as M5 Multan-Sukkur Motorway. It is connected to M3 Motorway (Lahore to Abdul Hakeem Motorway) near a village named Darkhana a few kilometers northeast of Abdul Hakeem Interchange. There is a separate Toll Plaza for Entrance/ Exit to/ from M3 Motorway.
Throughout its route, it passes mainly through the Agricultural Lands of Central Punjab.
Railway Line[]
M4 route is almost parallel to Railway Line till Faisalabad i.e. from Multan to Khanewal. The railway line runs along the left side of Motorway with an overhead bridge of Motorway for Railway crossing near Shamkot village. Then onwards, the Railway Line runs parallel to the right of motorway till Faisalabad, although the railway line might not be clearly visible from this motorway.
River Ravi[]
M4 Motorway crosses River Ravi in between Abdul Hakeem Interchange & Darkhana (M4, M3 Junction) Interchange.
Interesting facts[]
M4 Motorway provides 4 separate exits/interchanges to Multan as follows:
1) Shamkot (Khanewal) Interchange- As the name implies, this interchange is meant for Khanewal city, yet it also provides shortest access to Multan city via N-5 & to DHA Multan. This interchange also provides nearest access to E-5 Expressway (Khanewal to Lodharan Expressway) & can be used by the traffic coming from Peshawar, Islamabad, Faisalabad & Lahore, bounded for Bahawalpur City.
2) Shah Rukn-e-Alam/ Makhdoom Rasheed Interchange- This interchange, named after Shrine located at Qila Kohna Qasim Multan, provides access to Multan City for traffic bounded for Multan Lari Adda (Buses Stands & Trucks Stands) mainly via Vehari Road, besides giving exit to Vehari city also.
3) Shah Shams Tabrez Interchange- This interchange located on N-5, also named after Shrine located near Ali Chowk Multan, provides access to Multan city for traffic bounded to BCG Chowk Multan & adjacent areas, and furthermore to Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases, Multan, along with providing exit to Bahawalpur city also.
4) Sher Shah Interchange- This interchange is located on Multan- Shujabad- Jalalpur Peerwala Highway, provides access to Multan Cantt. It also provides exit to Shujabad on one side & to Muzaffargarh, D.G. Khan, Sakhi Sarawar, Rakhi Gaj, Fort Munro, Loralai, Qila Saifullah & Quetta on other side. Rakhi Gaj being the place where Pakistan's 2nd Highest Pillared Bridges are located in the mountain ranges of Koh-e-Suleiman. Through this Sher Shah Interchange, the motorway itself continues as M5 (Multan to Sukkur) Motorway.
Junctions and interchanges[]
This article contains a bulleted list or table of intersections which should be presented in a properly formatted junction table.(November 2021) |
M4 Motorway Junctions | ||
Interchange | Junction | Location |
---|---|---|
M-2 – | Pindi Bhatian | |
Sangla Hill | Beranwala Road | |
Sahianwala | Chiniot Road | |
Deptywala | Millat Road | |
Kamalpur | Sargodha Road | |
Aminpur | Narwala Road | |
Painsra/ Dandewal | Jhang Road | |
Gojra | Jhang Road | |
Toba Tek Singh | Jhang Road | |
Waryam Wala | Waryam Wala Road | |
Shorkot | Cantt. Road | |
M-3 – | Towards Pir Mahal & Lahore | |
Abdul Hakeem | Pul Bagar Rd | |
Makhdoom Pur Pahoran | Kabirwala Road | |
Kabirwala | Khanewal Road | |
Shamkot (Khanewal) | N-5 | |
Shah Rukn-e-Alam (Multan) | Vehari Road | |
Shah Shams Tabrez (Multan) | N-5 | |
Shershah M-5 – | Multan |
References[]
- ^ "Length of M4 Motorway on Map of National Highway Network website". nha.gov.pk. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ a b c M-4 to be inaugurated again tomororrow Dawn (newspaper), Published 1 February 2019, Retrieved 12 October 2021
- ^ Sahiwal to be connected with Lahore-Multan motorway Dawn (newspaper), Published 10 April 2021, Retrieved 12 October 2021
- ^ Amin Ahmed (4 February 2019). "Gojra-Shorkot section of National Motorway opened (M4 Gojra-Shorkot section)". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- Motorways in Pakistan
- Proposed roads in Pakistan