Punjab has taken another step toward its Digital Punjab initiative with the inauguration of a fully digitalized toll plaza on Lahore Ring Road, aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing security and modernizing public services.
Punjab Minister for Communication and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth on Monday formally inaugurated the upgraded Eastern Toll Plaza on Lahore Ring Road.
Chairperson Punjab Ring Road Authority Safiullah Gondal, along with senior officials from the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and One Network, attended the ceremony.
The newly digitalized six-lane toll plaza features M-Tag technology, allowing vehicles to pass through without lengthy stops and manual toll collection.
Officials said the project would help reduce congestion, shorten waiting times and improve the overall commuting experience for thousands of motorists who use Lahore Ring Road daily.
Digital Punjab Vision Moves Forward
The project forms part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s broader vision of transforming Punjab through technology-driven governance and digital infrastructure.
Officials described the toll plaza as an important upgrade for one of Lahore’s busiest traffic corridors.
The M-Tag system uses electronic toll collection technology to automate payments and reduce delays at toll booths. Similar systems already operate on Pakistan’s motorway network, where they have helped improve traffic movement and operational efficiency.
According to officials, the new system will create a free-flow traffic environment by reducing bottlenecks often caused by manual toll collection.
The digital infrastructure will also increase transparency in toll collection and improve operational monitoring.
Officials noted that the Eastern Toll Plaza was previously managed by a third-party operator, which often resulted in operational challenges and inconvenience for commuters.
The new system places greater emphasis on automation and centralized oversight.
Security and Traffic Monitoring Enhanced
Beyond traffic management, authorities say the digital toll plaza will strengthen security along Lahore Ring Road.
Officials briefed participants that the advanced system can help identify and monitor suspicious vehicles moving through the route.
The monitoring capability is expected to support law enforcement agencies and improve surveillance across key entry and exit points connected to the ring road.
Lahore Ring Road serves as a major transportation artery linking different parts of the provincial capital. The route also connects commercial zones, industrial areas and residential neighborhoods.
Transport experts have increasingly emphasized the importance of intelligent traffic systems as Lahore’s vehicle population continues to grow.
The government has recently accelerated efforts to digitize public services across Punjab, including transportation, land records, policing and municipal services.
Officials believe digital tolling systems can improve revenue collection, reduce leakages and provide better traffic data for future infrastructure planning.
The inauguration of the Eastern Toll Plaza marks one of the latest technology-driven upgrades under Punjab’s digital transformation agenda.
Authorities expect the project to improve road user experience while strengthening traffic management and security on one of Lahore’s most important transport corridors.
