The view from Gajju Matta

Lahore is decorated like a newly betrothed woman. The Punjab Government has finally raised the curtain on its widely debated and highly controversial Lahore Bus Rapid Transit System on February 10, 2013.
Much hullabaloo ensued and the proceeding weeks saw thousands pile on to the buses, cavalcading across the 27 kilometer stretch, getting on at one stop, getting off on the next and generally ensuring that the city remained steeped in a glow of jubilation for a while.
But with things finally gaining some semblance of normality after the Punjab Government decided to revert back on its plan for a one month no charge scheme, this scribe decided that the time was right to make a trip down the Gajju Matta way.
Getting on the bus happened to be relatively easy, despite the large number of people- families with children included- who continue to linger around in the futuristic glass encased bus bays, waiting for the next shiny red bus to take them on a day of joy-riding for Rs20 apiece.
But all puns aside, the speedy manner in which the buses arrive, the efficient manner in which the whole rapid corridor is being managed, and the extremely comfortable journey came as a pleasant surprise.
Running the course along the heavily populated areas of the City, the MBS fleet makes 27 stops at places including Jain Mander, the Civil secretariat, Hazrat Data Gunj Buxs shrine and the City District courts, cutting down waiting and travelling time for people who travel to the City Centre on a daily basis.
Still there are some complaints that have been voiced by commuters. Some complained of the escalators not working, the aesthetics of the elevated pathways running over busy intersections and the general haphazardness that came as result of the Punjab Governments bid to meet deadlines.
But most were happy with the elaborate mechanisms set up by the authorities to ensure everyone understands the route and is able to enjoy a hassle-free journey.
Saleem, a mechanic who travels to Shahdara from Chungi Amar Sidhu each day especially lauded the flat Rs20 it cost him to make the entire trip, a journey that cost him much more both in time and effort each day, even if he took his own motorbike.
During its completion, the project remained mired in controversy, with the opposition heavily criticizing it as nothing but a well-timed ploy by the Sharif brothers to gain visibility in time for the elections.
Changing tunes, now some say that there is a greater need to bring the stated Rs30 billion cost of the project under the microscope, while yet more accuse the project to be a Lahore centric approach to development, painting the Punjab government- and the Chief Minister in particular- as a modern version of Jack who used morally ambiguous methods to gain riches from his beanstalk.
However, much like any regular aficionado of fairytales, the Punjab Government had been firm and persistent in sticking up for the "happily ever after" version of things. And with the triumphant inauguration ceremony that was televised live, some would say that the Punjab Government has silenced the projects heaviest opponents- at least for a while.
After all, love it or hate it, Lahores need for a rapid transit system the likes of the MBS was dire.
Like all other major urban centres in the country, unmanageable traffic loads on the congested, narrow central city roads has been a persistent problem, but with the 45 new busses and their combined capacity to transport 12,000 people per hour, roads are already clearing up.
So overall- publicity ploy or not, with visible benefits trickling down to the general public, vilifying Jack in all likelihood will do no good, because bad puns aside, even the public likes the Abbott and Costello version of things better!