Deadline approaches: OLMT stay orders ruffle Chinese’ feathers
Contractor in town for inspections, concerned about potential delays in completion of the project
Contractor in town for inspections, concerned about potential delays in completion of the project. PHOTO: APP
LAHORE:
Chinese contractors of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) have expressed concern over stay orders obstructing work on the project.
Talking to The Express Tribune, OLMT project steering committee chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan said the project head from CR-CORINCO, the Chinese firm building the train track, was in town to inspect the progress.
In project review meeting on Wednesday, he said, the Chinese engineers had raised concerns about stay orders against the project and the unavailability of space for storage of u-tub in which metro train rails would be installed.
Hassaan said he had assured the Chinese contractors this was a standard legal hold-up.
He said the government had already provided all relevant information to the court.
“The court’s verdict is awaited. It can come any time,” he said.
Hassaan said the government had temporarily allotted land to Chinese firms near Dera Gujjaran so that they could store their machinery and equipment there.
“Meanwhile, a depot would be constructed for the purpose,” he said.
He said so far, 44 per cent of civil works had been completed for the project. “The government is determined to complete the project on time.”
Habib Construction Services CEO Shahid Saleem, the contractor charge of Package-1 of the OLMT, said most of the stay orders were in about sites included in Package-1 and around the underground Central Station near Lakshmi Chowk. He said these could delay completion of the project.
Stay orders have been issued against work at 12 places; Shalimar Gardens, Budhu Ka Awa, Lakshmi Building, General Post Officer (GPO), Supreme Court registry building, Aiwan-i-Auqaf, Shah Chiragh building, Saint Andrews Church, Mauj Darya Shrine, Gulabi Bagh, Chaburji and Tomb of Zebunnisa.
The 27-kilometre metro train project is funded through a soft loan from the Chinese government.
Project documents indicate that of the $1.65 billion loan, nearly $1 billion would be released to the China-based contractor CR-NORINCO.
The train will start from Raiwind and run along Multan Road before approaching the sites where work as been stopped over conservation concerns.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2016.
Chinese contractors of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) have expressed concern over stay orders obstructing work on the project.
Talking to The Express Tribune, OLMT project steering committee chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan said the project head from CR-CORINCO, the Chinese firm building the train track, was in town to inspect the progress.
In project review meeting on Wednesday, he said, the Chinese engineers had raised concerns about stay orders against the project and the unavailability of space for storage of u-tub in which metro train rails would be installed.
Hassaan said he had assured the Chinese contractors this was a standard legal hold-up.
He said the government had already provided all relevant information to the court.
“The court’s verdict is awaited. It can come any time,” he said.
Hassaan said the government had temporarily allotted land to Chinese firms near Dera Gujjaran so that they could store their machinery and equipment there.
“Meanwhile, a depot would be constructed for the purpose,” he said.
He said so far, 44 per cent of civil works had been completed for the project. “The government is determined to complete the project on time.”
Habib Construction Services CEO Shahid Saleem, the contractor charge of Package-1 of the OLMT, said most of the stay orders were in about sites included in Package-1 and around the underground Central Station near Lakshmi Chowk. He said these could delay completion of the project.
Stay orders have been issued against work at 12 places; Shalimar Gardens, Budhu Ka Awa, Lakshmi Building, General Post Officer (GPO), Supreme Court registry building, Aiwan-i-Auqaf, Shah Chiragh building, Saint Andrews Church, Mauj Darya Shrine, Gulabi Bagh, Chaburji and Tomb of Zebunnisa.
The 27-kilometre metro train project is funded through a soft loan from the Chinese government.
Project documents indicate that of the $1.65 billion loan, nearly $1 billion would be released to the China-based contractor CR-NORINCO.
The train will start from Raiwind and run along Multan Road before approaching the sites where work as been stopped over conservation concerns.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2016.