pon boarding the Orange Line Metro Train at the Ali Town Station, I marvelled at the clear-cut distinction between the historic flying lanes passing by me below, and the transit line transportation system that ran along the state-of-the-art elevated tracks. The sleek train — tinted grey, orange and red — sticks out when travelling across purana Lahore, ricocheting like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond, leaving ripples in the landmarks in its wake.

I thought about the time when Lahore was a labyrinth of twisting alleyways, filled with historic secrets of yore. Now, however, the ancient sections of this city are overshadowed by contemporaneity — as is evident by the destruction that this mega project left behind.

Emotions that once ran rampant against the OLMT, eight years later, have faded into the background. The “train bhi banao, virsa bhi bachao” slogan belongs in the past.

Amongst the slew of casualties are ancient sites such as Mauj Darya, a shrine akin to a pearl in the heart of the city, revered by many. The mosque adjacent to the shrine, along with a section of its courtyard, was demolished to pave the way for an underground tunnel. The surrounding sections of Jain Mandir, which is delineated in the Shikhara architectural style and serves as a testament to Lahore’s religious diversity, were allocated to the project.

The notion of modernity needs not be pitted against heritage. After all, it is not bridges and underpasses and flyovers that connect people; rather, it is the rich tapestry of the historical past.

While the temple has once again materialised, due to restorative efforts, making its presence known within the city, it can be said that the history which was embedded within the primordial walls has been lost amidst the relentless cycle of construction and demolition.

The Kapurthala House has succumbed to the wrecking ball. Its colonial style framework is now supported by polypropylene sand bags. The OLMT, with its sprawling 27-kilometre track, passes within a stone’s throw of world heritage sites such as Shalamar Gardens, General Post Office and Chauburji. Its impact extends beyond the physical destruction of heritage sites — it is the symbolic severance of the past.

The cultural significance of a site is linked not just to its physicality but also with its surroundings. The bustling bazaars upon the old streets of Lahore serve as the lifeblood of these sites, providing a vibrant background against which cultural significance thrives. With the encroachment of modern infrastructure, this traditional hub is under threat.

This writing is not a stance against progress. As a developing nation, Pakistan must forge ahead, but this advancement should not come at the cost of historical monuments. The notion of modernity need not be pitted against heritage. After all, it is not bridges and underpasses and flyovers that connect people; rather, it is the rich tapestry of the past.

The writer is a student based in Lahore