Kalma Chowk Lahore is a traffic point – it is a busy intersection in the city. Over the years, it changed from a roundabout with some decorations to a central traffic hub. It now has a flyover and an underpass. Bikes, along with buses, constantly move through it. People who drive through it have a story to tell, and they usually have a complaint.
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The Good Old Days of Kalma Chowk
Before all the construction, Kalma Chowk was known for its roundabout. It had a small park in the middle and even a mini-golf setup that kids and families enjoyed. People remember stopping there, either stuck in traffic or just to take a quick breather. The area had charm. You could spot the sculpture in the middle from a distance. Some people say that crossing Kalma Chowk used to feel like a break in the chaos.
Reddit users often bring up the past:
- “There used to be a nursery there… now it’s just concrete.”
- “I remember watching someone direct traffic in the rain. No traffic warden, just a random person!”
Kalma Underpass: A Needed Fix
As traffic grew, Lahore needed something big to manage the mess. Enter the Kalma Underpass, opened in 2013. This wasn’t just a regular construction job. It was built to fix traffic jams and long waiting times. The underpass has four lanes each way and stands 5.1 meters high. It took just 82 days to make—a record at the time.
Before this underpass, people could be stuck for 10–15 minutes during rush hour. After it opened? The ride became much smoother. It was carried out by Habib Construction Services and designed by NESPAK. For many Lahoris, it felt like the city was finally thinking smart when it came to road planning.
The 2023 Kalma Chowk Flyover: A Fresh Layer
Ten years later, another upgrade came—the Kalma Chowk Flyover, opened in March 2023. This six-lane flyover was made to help with rising traffic between Garden Town, Gulberg, and the Central Business District (CBD). It added a whole new level—literally and in how people drive through it.
This project was part of the larger CBD Punjab Boulevard plan. Officials said they did this to ease traffic. But many local people think it was mostly done to allow easier access to the new business areas in the CBD of Lahore. For daily drivers, the road work means fewer stops and quicker trips.
Daily Traffic Numbers: Just How Busy Is It?
It might sound like a joke, but around 393,000 vehicles pass through Kalma Chowk every single day. That includes:
- Buses
- Bikes
- Rickshaws
- Trucks
- Private cars
- Ride-shares
- School vans
The underpass and flyover provided help, but traffic still collects. This happens especially in the mornings, at lunch, and before sunset. When the wedding season or holidays like Eid come, a large traffic jam forms.
Some changes, like signal-free U-turn lanes and links to Main Boulevard Garden Town and Main Boulevard Gulberg, have made a difference, but it’s far from perfect.
Public Transport Hub: Metrobus and Daewoo
One big plus at Kalma Chowk is the Metrobus station. A transit line helps daily commuters. People who travel from Model Town, Ichhra, or Ferozepur Road arrive in Gulberg quickly; they bypass long car trips.
Nearby, you’ve also got the Daewoo terminal. It makes intercity travel easy, whether you’re headed to Islamabad or Multan. It’s like Lahore’s own little version of a busy terminal. Some even joke it’s the “Grand Central” of Lahore—minus the subway trains.
So, whether it’s Metro, Daewoo, or rickshaws, Kalma Chowk is where many rides begin and end.
What Did We Lose?
Yes, traffic has gotten better (on some days), but Kalma Chowk also lost a few things along the way.
- The old sculpture? Gone.
- The small nursery with greenery? Gone.
- That relaxing feel in the area? Also gone.
Now, it’s all concrete and noise. More cars mean more pollution. Air quality is worse than ever, and all that car smoke adds to Lahore’s smog problem.
Rainy days? That’s a whole other mess. The underpass tends to flood. People joke about needing a boat instead of a car after heavy rain. It’s not even a surprise anymore—memes show up on social media within minutes!
People Talk: What Locals Say
If you look at online forums or Reddit threads about Kalma Chowk, you see a range of posts. Some complain, and some recall old memories.
- “When Ramadan comes, traffic jams here are serious.”
- “At least now I can get to Liberty Market faster.”
- “Remember the lady who stopped her car and started directing traffic? Iconic.”
These stories give you a complete picture, not just the roads, but how people feel about them. It’s not just about speed; it’s about daily life, stress, and those strange little human moments.
Real Estate and Business Boom
Kalma Chowk isn’t just a traffic fix—it’s now a hot spot for real estate. The smoother roads have helped areas like:
- Liberty Market
- Barkat Market
- Main Boulevard Gulberg
- CBD Lahore
Before the flyover, many people avoided the area because of the jams. Now, more visitors are coming in, which is great for local shops, malls, and food places.
Still, not everyone’s happy. Some think the whole thing was done to help CBD investors more than regular folks. Real estate prices are rising, and small businesses can’t always keep up.
Nearby Landmarks You Can Now Reach Easier
One benefit of the upgrades is how easy it is to get to nearby hotspots:
- Liberty Market – for clothes, shoes, and food
- Gaddafi Stadium – for cricket fans and concerts
- Hafeez Centre for Electronics
- Lahore Canal – perfect for evening walks (if you can handle the traffic)
What once took 30 minutes can now take just 10—on a good day, of course!
Traffic Control and Safety at Kalma Chowk
Overseeing a crowded place presents challenges. Traffic officers often take a spot at their posts when many cars use the road. Drivers struggle to keep their vehicles in a lane. People move their cars suddenly from one lane to another. Motorcyclists often put their bikes into small spaces between cars. This creates trouble for drivers.
People spoke about placing bright traffic lights and cameras to improve the situation, but improvement moves slowly. Some local people state that even with good roads, the drivers’ way of thinking needs to change.
What’s Next? Future of Kalma Chowk
Future projects are constantly being discussed. One of them is the Walton Link Road, which is expected to improve travel to:
- Askari V
- Falcon Society
- Punjab Stadium
- DHA and the Walton area
If done right, this could spread out the traffic, giving people more than just one way in and out. But there are still concerns—will drainage be fixed? What about green spaces? And will the whole area just turn into another concrete zone?
Some ask, “Can we fix traffic without losing the soul of the city?”
Final Thoughts
Kalma Chowk Lahore shows how fast a city alters. The place has changed much, going from a calm roundabout to one of Lahore’s busiest crossings. Some changes are good, such as quicker trips, improved road connections, and more ways to reach markets. Other changes are not so good, because there is more smog, less greenery, along with rising land costs.
For a person who lives in or visits Lahore, Kalma Chowk is not just a name – it is where roads join, where stories take place, and where people either laugh at the chaos or get stuck in it.
If you are a commuter stuck in traffic, a tourist going to Daewoo, or a person with a memory of the old sculpture, Kalma Chowk communicates a message. Perhaps it is time to visit if you have not been there recently. Just try to keep away from rush hour.