‘Lahore Orange Line Metro Train may be launched in just four months’

Steering committee chairman wants pace of work to be expedited

LAHORE: The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project will be rolled out in its entirety in just four months if the court gives a green light to construction in areas bound by stay orders.

This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Adviser and the OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan in the project's weekly progress review meeting held at the Punjab Chief Minister's Secretariat on Wednesday.



Hassaan said the chief minister of Punjab is known for how quickly he delivers on projects and provincial development is a testament to the fact. “A detailed plan has been chalked out which outlines beautification and development along the metro track route,” he added. “Similarly, plants, footpaths, green belts, streetlights, road crossings and traffic signs have been marked and would be in place for the utility of the citizens of the city.”

The chairman said that in 50 educational institutions of the provincial capital, the City Traffic Police, in collaboration with Punjab Education Department and NESPAK would conduct sessions to create awareness among the youth on traffic and safety as part of the initiative.

Around 77.6% of development work on the metro train project has been completed, while in the case of Package-1 (Dera Gujjran to Chaburji), 87.3% progress had been made. For Package-2 (from Chaburji to Ali Town), 61% of ground civil works have been done, while for Package-3 (depot area) the progress stood at 82.2% and 80.4% for Package-4 (Stabling Yard),

He also highlighted that electrical and mechanical works of project 2 were marked by a progress level of 305. He directed the contractor to increase the pace of development work on Package-2 and said the restoration of roads under the elevated track from Chaburji to Multan Chungi should be completed by November 30.

He was of the opinion that road encroachments be removed at the earliest so that the pace of work is smooth. The model stations at Islam Park and Salamatpura must be completed by the same date so that electrical and mechanical works can be completed.



MPA Chaudhry Shahbaz, Lahore Deputy Mayor Nazeer Khan Swati, Lahore Development Authority Chief Engineer Israr Saeed, Punjab Mass Transit Authority General Manager Syed Aziz Shah, NESPAK General Manager Salman Hafeez, TEPA Chief Engineer Saifur Rahman and officials from PTCL, SNGPL, Pakistan Railways, Traffic Police and other concerned departments, officials from the Chinese contractor involved in the project, CR-NORINCO and China Engineering Consultants also attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2017.