The Punjab government’s latest initiative, the Yellow Line, aims to boost affordable transportation options for the masses, but concerns persist over its environmental impact in a city that regularly features on “most polluted” lists thanks to its annual “smog season.”
The Yellow Line refers to a 24km route spanning from Thokar Niaz Baig to Hasbanspura. Initial plans suggested it would comprise an electric train, but recent announcements by the Punjab government have indicated it may utilize an electric bus transit system. For a city of nearly 15 million and increasing traffic snarls, additional transport options are always a welcome development. However, the plans drew swift backlash as they called for the razing of nearly 1,400 trees along the Canal Road, the Punjab capital’s largest greenbelt.
Civil society groups such as the Lahore Conservation Society, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have all voiced their opposition to the cutting down of any trees. In support of their disapproval, they have cited the Lahore Canal Urban Heritage Park Act, 2013, which explicitly prohibits “construction or any other infrastructure development work” and the removal of “any plant or canal tree.” Section 8 of the legislation further stipulates that any violations may result in imprisonment or fines. To make their voices heard, activists have staged protests against any extension of the Canal Road, bearing posters with slogans such as “Use the Roads We Have—Save the Land We Love.”
Among the critics is environmental lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam, who says it is essential to preserve the Canal as it represents the “psyche” of Lahore. Speaking with The Standard, he said the proposed project had raised several concerns, as it remained unclear how it would impact traffic on the Canal Road. Additionally, he noted, the proposed route travels through several residential areas—Garden Town, Johar Town, Faisal Town—and the provincial government has not sought their input on its viability. A major point of contention, he stressed, was the lack of concrete information on what the Yellow Line project even entails.
This isn’t the first time an urban transport project in Lahore has come under fire from environmentalists. In 2016, construction on the Orange Line metro train project was halted for 22 months due to its proximity to historical sites. The project came under further criticism because its construction required the relocation of more than 200 families, who were compensated just Rs. 20 billion for their losses.
The confusion surrounding the Yellow Line’s route echoes those concerns, with some critics fearing it, too, could lead to displacements. However, this remains a mere concern, as the project’s apparent, but as yet unconfirmed, evolution into a bus transit system appears to negate the need for the construction of new infrastructure. HRCP Director Farah Zia noted that the lack of clarity was the chief cause of concern, stating: “Everything is being done behind closed doors.”
For now, the Punjab government appears to be responding to the criticism. It has pledged to review the alignment of the proposed route through a feasibility study. Unofficial reports suggest the project may utilize ‘cut-and-cover’ tunnels to preserve existing structures and more than half the at-risk trees, but without any formal undertaking by the government, this remains mere speculation.
In a recent post on X, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz indicated the project would utilize an Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit, comprising a bus system that can transport 300 passengers. “It is a modern, cost-effective and environment-friendly alternative to conventional transport,” she said, adding it would be tested on the Canal Road. Yet, with uncertainty persisting, the Yellow Line risks becoming another source of controversy rather than a boon for Lahore’s urban transit if the government continues to avoid transparency for what should be a source of celebration for the city.