FROM TRANSIT CORRIDOR TO ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR: DEVELOPING A GREEN URBAN SPINE FRAMEWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE URBANISM IN LAHORE

Abstract

The alarming rate of urbanization has led to the disappearance of green spaces, fragmentation of the landscape, reduction in biodiversity and poor environmental conditions in Lahore. The Lahore Metro Bus Corridor is one of the important public transportation infrastructures in Lahore and has a potential of acting beyond mobility and can be used as a continuous green urban spine of Lahore. The potential of Lahore Metro Bus Corridor for the integration of green infrastructure to improve biodiversity connectivity, environmental quality and public health has been evaluated in this study, which covers the distance from Shahdara to Gajjumata. The following mixed-method research approach was used: site observations, GIS-based spatial analysis, vegetation assessment, and international best practices. The results indicate that while there is existing vegetation and landscape elements along the corridor, they are limited and fragmented to provide meaningful ecological connectivity. Spatial analysis revealed important green gaps, ecological barriers and opportunities for green enhancements, with a particular focus on the pedestrian areas, station and medians. International precedents like Curitiba's Green BRT Corridors and Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project are explored, reflecting the benefits of embedding ecological services into transport infrastructure. A conceptual Green Urban Spine Framework is suggested based on the findings, focusing on the continuous green corridors, the greening of the stations, and connectivity between pedestrians and cyclists. Finally, the study recommends that Lahore Metro Bus Corridor can be developed as a multifunctional ecological corridor, that not only will conserve biodiversity, but also be resilient to climate change, promote sustainable mobility and improve the living standards of the city's inhabitants, and offer a replicable model for future transit-oriented green infrastructure projects across Pakistan.