Lahore is the capital of Punjab and the second largest city of Pakistan. The city witnessed a tremendous traffic growth from around, thereby creating equally immense traffic congestion, necessitating efficient engineering and traffic management solutions to be undertaken. Therefore, the idea of developing a ring road around the city was conceived. The vision was to ensure efficient and speedy movement of freight and passengers, to alleviate traffic flow problems inside the city, and to boost the city’s potential for industrial development.
Numerous studies were carried out by the world’s leading consultants to decide the alignment of Lahore Ring Road (LRR). During 1992, JICA financed Comprehensive Study of Transport System (CSTS) by Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) and recommended construction of the ring road at the city periphery. However, project could not be initiated due to different administrative and financial reasons. M/s NESPAK (Pvt.) Ltd. was appointed as consultant in 2004 for the feasibility study, route selection, detailed engineering design and construction supervision. Various studies were carried out to determine the alignment of Lahore Ring Road. M/s NESPAK, the consultant, identified different possible alignments / routes of LRR, after conducting engineering study depending upon travel demand and behavior, traffic surveys and reduction of travel time. Dr. William C. Taylor, Professor of Michigan State University United States was associated by NESPAK as a traffic modeling expert who presented his studies / recommendations to the Chief Minister, Punjab. After analyzing the data, optimal alignment was decided in August, 2005 by Government of the Punjab and was published in the press for the information of general public.
The Lahore Ring Road was split into three convenient sections namely, Northern Loop (from Ghulshan-e-Ravi to Sui Gas Society, 40 km), Southern Loop (from Sui Gas Society to Molanwal, Sharaqpur Road, 37 km) and Western Loop (from end of Southern Loop to Ghulshan-e-Ravi, 26 km). Keeping in view its huge size and amount of investment required, the government decided to initially construct only the 40 km portion i.e. Northern Loop of Lahore Ring Road. For this purpose, Project Management Unit Lahore Ring Road Project (PMU-LRRP) was established in the year 2006. Later on in the year 2011, keeping in view various construction, maintenance and financial parameters of this mega project, the government decided to establish an independent and self-sustainable authority to takeover PMU-LRRP. Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA) was established in July, 2011 by an act passed by Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Lahore Ring Road Authority with its utmost effort successfully completed ongoing construction of Northern Loop of Lahore Ring and started on ground construction of Southern Loop of Lahore Ring Road which is currently near completion.