Contract for Orange Line Package-2 re-awarded

ZKB Reliable JV wins Rs11.39b deal for civil works between Chauburji and Ali Town

LAHORE: The Lahore Metro’s Orange Line project is back on track. The contract for civil works between Chauburji and Ali Town (Package-2) – that was cancelled earlier this month over sluggish pace of work – has been re-awarded.

Official documents indicate that ZKB Reliable JV has secured the contract for Rs11.39 billion. Four companies had submitted proposals for the contract but two of them failed in technical evaluation.

Habib Construction Services (HCS), the contractor for Orange Line Package-1 from Dera Gujjaran to Chauburji, was knocked out in cost evaluation after quoting Rs11.92 billion.

The earlier contract was awarded to Maqbool Calson JV in September 2015, but the company failed to fulfil its contractual obligations, which resulted in the cancellation of the contract by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

According to NESPAK General Manager Salman Hafeez, 53% civil works of the metro train line has already been completed. HCS has completed 64% civil works on Package-1, while the progress on Package-2 stands at 44% from Chauburji to Ali Town, 50% on Depot near Dera Gujran and 49% on Stabling Yard near Ali Town.

Though the government wants to complete the country’s first metro train project by October 2017 or precisely before the next general elections, the project faces many hurdles, including a court order against construction near historical sites and a clean chit from heritage experts.

The Supreme Court recently established a two-member expert panel to validate the vibration impact assessment report prepared by NESPAK, the lead engineering consultant of the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.