Existed: 1992 – present North end: Rawalpindi/Islamabad Length 375 km | History: Completed in 1997 South end: Lahore Constructed 1992 | |
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Major cities Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Chakwal, Sheikhupura, Pindi Bhattian, Bhalwal | ||
The M2 (Urdu: موٹروے 2) is a North-South motorway in Pakistan, connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Lahore. The motorway is 375 km long and located entirely in Punjab. It passes through Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura, Khanqah Dogran,Kot Sarwar, Pindi Bhattian, Salem, Lilla, Kot Momin, Kallar Kahar, Balksar, Nila Dulha and Chakri before ending just outside the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. At Junction of M2 and M1 there is an interchange which on one side connect Islamabad/Rawalpindi through an expressway of 8km long, and the new Islamabad international airport through the other side of junction. It then continues on to eventually become the M1 motorway linking the twin cities with Peshawar. The M-2 crosses the junction of the M3 (to Faisalabad) at Pindi Bhattian. It is part of Pakistan's Motorway Network. Chaudhary Ghias Mela recently inaugurated the Sial More interchange which exits at Sial More and provides an alternate route to Sargodha.
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Map of Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, Pakistan
One of the most expensive motorways in Asia, it has the highest pillared-bridge in Asia (at the Khewra Salt Range)The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has used the M2 motorway as a runway on two occasions: for the first time in 2000 when it landed an F-7P fighter, a Super Mushak trainer and a C-130 and, again, in 2010. On the last occasion, the PAF used a runway section on the M2 motorway on 2 April 2010 to land, refuel and take-off two jet fighters, a Mirage III and an F-7P, during its Highmark 2010 exercise.
The whole motorway after a long period of 15 years renovated and recarpeted by Frontier Works Organization. New tolls plazas are installed on every interchanges with the new and latest e-tag system. The formal Miles board are changed to digital boards at a lots of places.
There are ten service and rest areas on both sides of the whole motorway, having facilities of Insta fueling, Insta Carwash, Insta car repair and restaurants of food and coffee like KFC, McDonald's, Gloria Jeans coffee and others.
Route
The M-2 starts to the west of Lahore, at the Thokar Niaz Baig junction of N-5 (National Highway No. 5). Once it crosses the Ravi River, it diverges from the N-5 (also known as GT or Grand Trunk Road) and heads west towards Sheikhupura. After passing the Sheikhupura Interchange Khanqah Dogran Interchange comes at a distance of 36 km from the Sheikhupura Interchange. After once at Pindi Bhattian, it crosses the M3 junction and turns north-west. It continues all the way to Kallar Kahar, where it enters the Salt Ranges. Once past the Salt Ranges, the M-2 turns north and ends just west of Rawalpindi at the junction between the Islamabad Link Road and the M1. The whole stretch of the M-2 consists of 6 lanes, and there are a number of rest areas along the route, with washroom and eating facilities. The M2 is a motorway in Punjab province, Pakistan. It is 367 km long and begins in Lahore. It then passes through Sheikhupura, Pindi Bhattian, Kot Momin, Salem, bhera, Lilla, Kallar Kahar, Balksar, and Chakri before ending just outside the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It then continues on to eventually become the M1 motorway linking the twin cities with Peshawar.
History
The M-2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term(1990–1993) and later inaugurated on November 26, 1997, during his second term. In late 2006, upgrades were made to the portion of the M-2 passing through the Salt Ranges due to increasing complaints of drivers. The upgrades included better marking of the road lines and increased size of road signs for easy visibility.
1. M2 Zero Point, Lahore Thokar Niaz Beg, Lahore
2. Babu Sabu Interchange Eastern Exit to Babu Sabu, City center, Chowk Yatim Khana, Lahore Ring Road, Distt. Courts
3. Faiz Pure Interchange Eastern Exit to Shahdra Town and N-5 Western Exit to Sharq Pure, Nakana Sahib and Jardanwala
4. Kot Abdul Malik Interchange
Exit at Sheikhupura Side and Lahore Side
5. Kala Shah Kaku Interchange Eastern Exit to Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore Link Road and N-5
6. Sheikhupura Interchange Eastern Exit to Gujranwala and N-5 Western Exit to Sheikhupura and Shahkot
7. Khanqah Dogran Interchange Eastern Exit to Hafizabad Western Exit to Khanqah Dogran
8. Sukheki Interchange Eastern Exit to Hafizabad Western Exit to Sukheki
9. Motorway M-3 Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Western Exit to Faisalabad
10. Pindi Bhattian Interchange Eastern Exit to Hafizabad, Gujranwala and N-5 Western Exit to Pindi Bhattian, Chiniot and Jhang
11. Makhdoom Interchange Eastern Exit to Gujrat and N-5 Western Exit to Sial More and Sargodha
12. Kot Momin Interchange Eastern Exit to Mela Bhabra
13. Saalam Interchange Eastern Exit to Mandi Bahauddin, Phalia, Gujrat and N-5 Western Exit to Saalam, Bhalwal and Sargodha
14. Bhera Interchange Eastern Exit to Bhera, Malakwal, Sarai Alamgir, Kharian and N-5 Western Exit to Shahpur Saddar and Khushab
13. Lilla Sharif Interchange Eastern Exit to Pind Dadan Khan, Khewra, Jhelum and N-5 Western Exit to Lilla Sharif, Khushab
14. Kallar Kahar Interchange Eastern Exit to Chakwal, Choa Saidan Shah, Khewra Salt Mine, Sohawa and N-5 Western Exit to Kallar Kahar, Talagang, Khushab
15. Balkasar Interchange Eastern Exit to Chakwal, Sohawa, Mandra and N-5 Western Exit to Balkassar, Talagang,Lawa, Mianwali, Pindi Gheb, Jand,
16. Neelah Dullah Interchange M2 Eastern Exit to Chakwal, Dullah and Bhagwal Western Exit to Neelah
17. Chakri Interchange Eastern Exit to Chakri, Rawalpindi and N-5 Western Exit to Pindi Gheb
18. M2-M1 Junction, Islamabd Eastern Exit to Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Islamabad Motorways Link Road, N-5 Western Exit to Gandhara International Airport Road(proposed)
Fuel stations
Monday and Thursday is the only days (as of November 2014) when CNG remains available throughout this route.