Train project: Ground civil works to be completed by April-end
Work yet to commence on ‘crucial’ underground component
Work yet to commence on ‘crucial’ underground component. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
The ground civil works of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) are likely to be completed by the end of April.
The only exception to this is work across disputed properties lying along the project’s route. The completion of the train’s track is dependant on the construction of a 1.7 kilometre underground section, work on which is yet to commence.
Shahid Saleem, the CEO of Habib Construction Services (HCS), the OLMT Package-1 contractor told The Express Tribune that the company had fixed a target to commence pre-casting and installation of u-tubs in May following the completion of ground civil works. “The construction of a casting yard is underway. The company will start pre-casting u-tubs, where rails will be installed, in May. Pre-casting and installation of u-tubs will take around eight months to complete,” he said. Saleem said the company had finished work on almost 50 per cent of the project’s pillars. In select areas, he said, adjacent roads had been opened to traffic following the removal of diversions.
Responding to a query, he said impediments in land acquisition and litigation had delayed the project. Saleem said that while the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had completed acquiring land needed for the project across most areas, there were still pockets along the project’s route whose ownership was sub judice. Citing an example, he said, “We are in March, 2016 and the LDA is still carrying out demolitions across Jain Mandir and other areas where the land acquisition process has been completed. Originally, the land should have been cleared before October 25, 2015 for construction purposes.” Similarly, he said, work could not be initiated on the 1.7 kilometre underground port ion. The component is said to be one of the most technically-challenging and time-consuming tasks of the project.
A survey of the project’s site in the Jain Mandir area reveals that a large scale demolition drive is underway. With the exception of a small portion of Jain Mandir, all buildings including a solid waste management office, a school for the differently-able, shops and filling stations have been razed. An on-site official told The Express Tribune that the authority had been targeting to complete the demolition drive and remove debris in two weeks. The 27 kilometre project, estimated to cost $1.65 billion, is being financed largely by a Chinese soft loan. The project is part of a greater metro network slated to connect Raiwind Road, Multan Road, McLeod Road, City Railway Station and the Grand Trunk Road once complete.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.
The ground civil works of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) are likely to be completed by the end of April.
The only exception to this is work across disputed properties lying along the project’s route. The completion of the train’s track is dependant on the construction of a 1.7 kilometre underground section, work on which is yet to commence.
Shahid Saleem, the CEO of Habib Construction Services (HCS), the OLMT Package-1 contractor told The Express Tribune that the company had fixed a target to commence pre-casting and installation of u-tubs in May following the completion of ground civil works. “The construction of a casting yard is underway. The company will start pre-casting u-tubs, where rails will be installed, in May. Pre-casting and installation of u-tubs will take around eight months to complete,” he said. Saleem said the company had finished work on almost 50 per cent of the project’s pillars. In select areas, he said, adjacent roads had been opened to traffic following the removal of diversions.
Responding to a query, he said impediments in land acquisition and litigation had delayed the project. Saleem said that while the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had completed acquiring land needed for the project across most areas, there were still pockets along the project’s route whose ownership was sub judice. Citing an example, he said, “We are in March, 2016 and the LDA is still carrying out demolitions across Jain Mandir and other areas where the land acquisition process has been completed. Originally, the land should have been cleared before October 25, 2015 for construction purposes.” Similarly, he said, work could not be initiated on the 1.7 kilometre underground port ion. The component is said to be one of the most technically-challenging and time-consuming tasks of the project.
A survey of the project’s site in the Jain Mandir area reveals that a large scale demolition drive is underway. With the exception of a small portion of Jain Mandir, all buildings including a solid waste management office, a school for the differently-able, shops and filling stations have been razed. An on-site official told The Express Tribune that the authority had been targeting to complete the demolition drive and remove debris in two weeks. The 27 kilometre project, estimated to cost $1.65 billion, is being financed largely by a Chinese soft loan. The project is part of a greater metro network slated to connect Raiwind Road, Multan Road, McLeod Road, City Railway Station and the Grand Trunk Road once complete.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.