M-2 motorway (Pakistan)

Route map:
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M-2 motorway shield}}
M-2 motorway
ایم ٢ موٹروے
لاہور-اسلام آباد موٹروے
Map
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by
National Highway Authority
Length375 km (233 mi)
Existed1997–present
Major junctions
North end Islamabad
Major intersections M-4 Motorway Interchange
M-3 Motorway Interchange
Babu Sabu Interchange
South end Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
Location
CountryPakistan
Major citiesChakwal
Kallar Kahar
Bhalwal
Pindi Bhattian
Sheikhupura
Kot Abdul Malik
Highway system

The M-2 Motorway or the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway (

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

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 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 Band Road to Chowk Yatim Khana, LRR Band Road to Chowk Yatim Khana, LRR
M-3 Lahore-Abdul Hakeem  AbdHk 
Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway
Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway
Faiz Pure Interchange
Lahore-Jaranwala Road
 to Jaranwala
Lahore-Jaranwala Road
 to Shahdara Town, Lahore
Kot Abdul Malik Interchange
N-60 – to Sheikhupura
N-60 – to Lahore
Kala Shah Kaku Interchange
Lahore Bypass to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5
Lahore Bypass to Kala Shah Kaku & N-5
Sheikhupura Interchange
Gujranwala–Sheikhupura Road
 to Sheikhupura
Gujranwala–Sheikhupura Road to Gujranwala
Hiran Minar Interchange
Jandiala–Sheikhupura Road
 to Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura
Jandiala–Sheikhupura Road
 to Jandiala Sher Khan
Khanqah Dogran Interchange
Khanqah Dogran Road
 to Khanqah Dogran
Khanqah Dogran Road to Hafizabad
Sukheki Interchange
Hafizabad-Sukheki Road
 to Sukheki
Hafizabad-Sukheki Road
 to Hafizabad
M-4 Pindi Bhattian-Multan  Mltn 
Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway
Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway
Pindi Bhattian Interchange
Wazirabad Road to Pindi Bhattian
, Chiniot & Jhang
Wazirabad Road
 to Wazirabad
Makhdoom Interchange
Sial-Phalia Road to Sial More & Sargodha
Gujrat
Kot Momin Interchange Kot Momin, Bhalwal Bhabra
Saalam Interchange
Sargodha-Gujrat Road
 to Bhalwal, Sargodha
Sargodha-Gujrat Road to Mandi Bahauddin
Bhera Interchange
Bhera-Jhawarian Road
 to Jhawarian, Shahpur
Bhera-Jhawarian Road
 to Bhera, Malakwal
Lilla Interchange
Pind Dadan Khan-Lilla Road to Lilla Town, Khushab
Pind Dadan Khan-Lilla Road to Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum
Kallar Kahar Interchange
 		Kallar Kahar Choa Saidanshah, Katas Raj Temples
Balkasar Interchange
Talagang-Chakwal Road
 to Balkassar, Talagang
Talagang-Chakwal Road to Chakwal
Neelah Dullah Interchange M-2
Neela-Basti Abdullah Road
 to Neela
Neela-Basti Abdullah Road
 to Basti Abdullah & Bhagwal
Chakri Interchange
Chakri Road
 to Chakri
Chakri Road
 to Rawalpindi
Thalian Interchange
New Islamabad Airport
Thalian Road
 to Thalian
M-2-M1 Junction, Islamabad
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

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

  • Motorways of Pakistan
  • National Highways of Pakistan
  • National Highway Authority (Pakistan)
  • National Highways and Motorway Police

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-134-04196-1
    .
  2. ^ "Lahore-Islamabad Motorway". 70 Years of Impact : SMEC. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  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 6 January 2022.
  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 6 January 2022.
  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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External links

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