The location of a railway station and its impact on urban planning in colonial Lahore 1846–1947

ABSTRACT In the nineteenth century, the impact of railways on urbanization was significant, despite initial predictions that its role would be limited to transportation. The presence of a railway station had impacted the urban fabric of Lahore during the colonial rule. It was the first purpose-built building by the British and it started the new era of urban expansion. Eventually, railway development turned out to be the fourth major settlement of Lahore. The objective of this paper is to highlight the contribution of railways in shaping the form and growth of Lahore. The methodology employed for this study consisted of collecting both primary and secondary data, followed by a comparative analysis of the urban context of pre-colonial Lahore and its development post the introduction of railways in the city.