Transport: ‘Revise Metro train project’s model’

Protesters say those living along the route will be affected by land acquisition

LAHORE: The Lahore Conservation Society staged a protest demonstration at Charing Cross on Friday demanding that the government stop work on the Orange Line Train project.

The protesters called for a review of the project with help from accredited professionals. Some of them claimed that the cost of land acquisition had not been included in the reported project cost.

They called for use of tunnel technology claiming that it was environment-friendly.

Lahore Conservation Society president Kamil Khan Mumtaz said the project did not take into account realities of the city. He said its development model should be reconsidered.

“The project does not take into account an effective traffic management system that must include investment in buses and footpaths,” said Syeda Mehvish, one of the protesters. The protesters said those living along the route would be affected by land acquisition. Lahore Conservation Society’s Imrana Tiwana said, “We are not opposed to mass transit system in the city. We want to ensure that the process is transparent,” she said.

South Asian Partnership Pakistan Director Muhammad Tahseen said, “The project disregards the fundamental rights of citizens. It will result in great homelessness and poverty.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2015.