Laying the groundwork: OLMT project finally completes land acquisition

Steering committee chairman says safety measures must be taken during construction

LAHORE: The Punjab government has finally completed the land acquisition process for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project. The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) kick-started the land acquisition process for the metro train in January, 2016.

Initially, LDA officials were of the view that land acquisition would hardly take a week or so, but litigation and stay orders meant that process took almost 16 months to complete. The OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan told The Express Tribune that after paying relocation compensation to residents of Parachute Colony, the land acquisition process was completed.



Initially, they planned to acquire 1,150 kanals of private and state land for the metro train project in different areas along the route. However, the authority later had to acquire some additional property for the construction of allied facilities. However, after completion of the land acquisition, process the government was still facing a final hurdle; the court verdict on constriction near heritage sites.

In weekly a progress review meeting on Wednesday, it was disclosed that over 67% of ground civil works of the project had been completed, including a huge bridge on the Lahore Ring Road near Quaid-e-Azam Interchange. It had been constructed up to a length of eight kilometers along the project’s Package-I (from Dera Gujjran to Chaburji).

Meeting participants were informed that overall progress was 82% on Package-1 and 50%, on Package-II. Khawaja Ahmad Haassan directed authorities to gear up for construction activity on Package-II and employ more labour for this purpose.



He underlined the need for adopt safety measures during construction on the project. He added areas where there was work in progress should be barricaded to avoid the collision of vehicles. “Bank men should be deployed to facilitate the reversing of vehicles and reflecting signage should be placed on the site. Sufficient lighting arrangements should also be made for the night,” he said. “Fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment should be at hand and staff must be trained to operate it.” He said flammable material should be handled carefully and stored at designated places, separate from ignition sources.

“Clear access and egress must be ensured to and from the site. Safe speed limits must be defined and implemented.” He also called on relevant departments to get their staff trained by Rescue 1122 to tackle any untoward incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2017.