Lahore Ring Road and its after shocks
Lahore Ring Road is the best & landmark project in the history of Lahore that has eased traffic problems and is connecting different regions to the provincial capital. Lahore Ring Road has enormous benefits even observed by the cities surrounding Lahore, but we should not stop just with one ring road as skies the limit. In this blog we will discuss the long term effects of Lahore Ring Road and future development patterns.
Lahore Ring Road
Lahore Ring Road (LLR) is a high speed 6 lane controlled traffic access orbit around Lahore City of 85 kilometers. The ideal of Lahore Ring Road was first perceived in 1992. The length of original plan at that time was 177 kilometers. But due to the political and economic troubles, project was postponed. The construction work on LRR started in 2004 and 40 kilometers long Northern Loop of Lahore Ring Road was completed in 2010. The Southern Loop also saw delays. The work on Southern Loop of LLR started on 14th of August 2016 and will be completed by 14th of August 2017. LRR is connected to all major road networks of Lahore via interchanges.
Effects of Lahore Ring Road on real estate sector
Development works have always positive effects on real estate sector. Lahore Rig Road is connecting different areas of Lahore due to which sale and purchase of properties has increased. Prices in the areas near to Lahore Ring Road Northern Loop tremendously increased. This time too we will see positive effects of Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop. But price rise will not be as sharp as it was in the Northern Loop, as investors are hesitant to invest due to property tax amendments 2016. Now FBR is asking the source of income and black money cannot flow easily into real estate sector this time.
Effects of Lahore Ring Road on Lahore City development pattern
From 1992 to 2010, Lahore was expanding in all directions. This fast land expansion of Lahore City was checked by BRB Canal on Eastern side and River Ravi on Western side. Lahore Ring Road has further limited Lahore City. Now Lahore City is within Lahore Ring Road, like old Lahore City was within walls. Now area within LRR is prime area of Lahore and area surrounding LLR is the secondary area. This mindset is also clear in property price trends, as property prices within LRR are higher than the property prices in the areas surrounding LRR. New developments like roads, offices, hospitals, commercial centers, schools and housing projects can be seen within LRR or near to LRR. Lahore Ring Road has definitely changed the development pattern of Lahore City.
LAHORE will soon need Lahore Ring Road 2 / Outer Ring Road like BEIJING & MOSCOW
LRR has divided Lahore into primary and secondary divisions. Land within LRR has limitations and cannot be increased. Land prices within LRR are sky-high and will keep rising due to limitations. In long run this will create many problems for the people like unaffordable housing, traffic problems, congestion & health issues.
MOSCOW RING ROAD
Russians were facing the same issue in Moscow back 2005. When Moscow had one Ring Road and area within Moscow Ring Road was just 900 square kilometers. To solve issues, Moscow Development Authority built another Ring Road around the existing one and city area was increased from 900 to 2500 square kilometers. The new city limits provided many employment opportunities, reduced traffic problems and properties became more affordable.
BEIJING RING ROAD
Ring Road is definitely the best way to cool down traffic problems. But at the same time Ring Road is the symbol of growing economy as is the case in China. Beijing Ring Roads are clearly elaborating the status of China as world economic power house. China is now building 7th Ring Road around Beijing City. 7th Ring Road is 900 kilometer long orbit that will connect different cities to Beijing. This new orbit will definitely give the due economic shares to the regions surrounding Beijing.
Similarly like Beijing & Moscow, we will soon need Lahore Ring Road 2 or Outer Ring Road. This can be developed by converting Lahore Eastern Bypass, BRB Canal Road, Sue-E-Asal Road, Manga-Raiwind Road and Jaranwala Road into LRR 2 or Outer Ring Road. Unless we develop another Ring Road in Lahore, people will keep suffering due to limited land area, transportation issues, congestion and high pollution level.