'Heritage sites on route will be protected at all cost'
Weekly meeting urges workers to complete construction at the earliest under OLMT
Rather than ruining these historical places, the government needs to weigh up some other options to save national heritage sites. PHOTO: APP
LAHORE:
In line with Supreme Court of Pakistan orders, all possible arrangements are being made to preserve 11 historical buildings which fall along the route of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. To this end, special instruments to continuously monitor vibration intensity and mitigate environmental/noise pollution would be installed.
Punjab Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of the Steering Committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (LOMTP), Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, disclosed this while chairing the weekly progress review meeting on Thursday.
Three committees would keep an eye on construction work, as per the orders of the SC. These included advisory, technical and special committees, while an independent conservation engineer has also been appointed on the court’s order, he revealed.
He said the construction of track near Gulabi Bagh and Bhudu’s tomb on GT Road has started. Construction near Shalimar Garden, Chouburji and Lakshmi building will commence soon as work to cover the front elevations of these buildings with protective sheets was in progress.
He said another six sets of rolling stock had arrived in Pakistan from China and will be dispatched to Lahore after the fulfillment of customs formalities. So far, 11 out of the total 27 train sets have arrived in Pakistan.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassan observed that hurdles in the path of project completion had been removed as a result of the SC’s landmark judgment. He added directions by the apex court will be strictly adhered to while executing this mega project, which had already suffered inordinate delays due to litigation.
NESPAK General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that more than 80% of civil work as well as 36 % of electrical and mechanical has been completed. Progress on Package-I from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chouburji was at 88%, while construction on Package-II, from Choburji to Ali Town, was 67 % complete.
Also, the depot near Dera Gujran was 83% complete and progress at Stabling Yard near Ali Town was at 84%.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan ordered the expediting of electrical and mechanical works on the project. He stated that 24-hour security cover had been arranged for Chinese engineers who could now work at night to complete the construction.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2017.
In line with Supreme Court of Pakistan orders, all possible arrangements are being made to preserve 11 historical buildings which fall along the route of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. To this end, special instruments to continuously monitor vibration intensity and mitigate environmental/noise pollution would be installed.
Punjab Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of the Steering Committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (LOMTP), Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, disclosed this while chairing the weekly progress review meeting on Thursday.
Three committees would keep an eye on construction work, as per the orders of the SC. These included advisory, technical and special committees, while an independent conservation engineer has also been appointed on the court’s order, he revealed.
He said the construction of track near Gulabi Bagh and Bhudu’s tomb on GT Road has started. Construction near Shalimar Garden, Chouburji and Lakshmi building will commence soon as work to cover the front elevations of these buildings with protective sheets was in progress.
He said another six sets of rolling stock had arrived in Pakistan from China and will be dispatched to Lahore after the fulfillment of customs formalities. So far, 11 out of the total 27 train sets have arrived in Pakistan.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassan observed that hurdles in the path of project completion had been removed as a result of the SC’s landmark judgment. He added directions by the apex court will be strictly adhered to while executing this mega project, which had already suffered inordinate delays due to litigation.
NESPAK General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that more than 80% of civil work as well as 36 % of electrical and mechanical has been completed. Progress on Package-I from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chouburji was at 88%, while construction on Package-II, from Choburji to Ali Town, was 67 % complete.
Also, the depot near Dera Gujran was 83% complete and progress at Stabling Yard near Ali Town was at 84%.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan ordered the expediting of electrical and mechanical works on the project. He stated that 24-hour security cover had been arranged for Chinese engineers who could now work at night to complete the construction.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2017.