First train onboard from Shanghai

Meeting reviews civil, electrical and mechanical fields of the project

LAHORE: The first train of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project has been loaded on a ship in Shanghai, China, and expected to arrive in Karachi by September 15.

This was disclosed by the OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan while speaking during project’s weekly progress review meeting on Wednesday. Hassaan highlighted that 73% civil works and 15% electrical and mechanical works of the project has already been completed. Two high voltage power substations would also start working by September 15, he added.



He said the country’s first metro train would be driverless and fully automatic that would run on electricity. Two power substations, at Multan Road and Grand Trunk Road were in final phase of their completion that would energise the metro train.

Though, the court has issued stay orders at various locations of the OLMT package-1 (from Dera Gujjran to Chauburji) but contractors have almost completed development works on remaining cleared sections.

The participants of the meeting were informed that progress on package-I was 85.6%, on package-II from Chauburji to Ali Town was 53%, on Depot near Dera Gujjran was 78.4% while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 74.3%. In addition, 15% electrical works had also been completed.



Hassaan said every metro train station had been treated as separate project and development works were being done simultaneously. He said special taskforces had been constituted to workout deadlines of all metro stations. He directed officials concerned to complete equipment rooms on priority bases.

It was informed in the meeting that construction work of new drain from Chauburji to Ravi River was also underway near McLeod Road and it was likely to be completed in a month’s time. As many as 191 traffic wardens had been deployed to maintain smooth traffic flow, meeting participants were told.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2017.