OLMT to start running from Feb 28

Advisor to chief minister directs officials to finalise all arrangements

LAHORE: The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train will start running on a trial basis from February 28, 2018, claimed Punjab Chief Minister Advisor and Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project's Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan.

He was speaking at the weekly progress review meeting on Wednesday.

Hassaan directed officials to finalise all arrangements for the trial run of the train through five stations built on GT Road on a 5.5 kilometre-long stretch from Dera Gujjran to Pakistan Mint. He said that the area should be fully carpeted and roads should be marked with lanes. Also, horticulture work in spots reserved as green belts should be carried out and pedestrian walkways along the track should be constructed.

He further directed them to provide electricity connections from a newly-established substation near Engineering University to metro's depot at Dera Gujjran by the first week of February.

He said that a total of 17 train sets have reached Pakistan from China while the remaining 10 would be imported within the next few weeks.

The meeting was informed that 82.5% of civil work, besides 38% electrical and mechanical work on the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed. The progress on package-I from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chouburji was 89.5%, work on package-II from Choburji to Ali Town was 70.3% complete while work on depot near Dera Gujjran was 85% done.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2018.