The Punjab government has given the green light for transitioning to a digital fare payment system for Lahore’s Orange Line Metro Train, the first electric urban rail transit system built under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Launched on October 25, 2020, the Orange Line holds the distinction of being Pakistan’s first urban railway and the first major public infrastructure project completed under the Belt and Road Initiative through CPEC.
The current token-based entry system will be replaced with a more advanced barcode entry method that supports payments via credit and debit cards, ATM cards, and mobile wallet apps. Additionally, an NFC-enabled tap-and-go system will allow passengers to access the entire transit network with ease. A unified T-Cash Card has been approved for use across all 27 Orange Line stations, and a special student transit card is also under development.
As an electric-powered train system, the Orange Line aims for zero emissions and zero pollution. It is projected to reduce annual fuel-related gas emissions by 30,000 tons. As one of the early-harvest projects under CPEC, the Orange Line was co-developed by China Railway Group Corporation and China North Industries Corporation with financial backing through a $1.6 billion loan from China.
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