27 trains for OLMT to reach Pakistan next week

CM adviser says over 84% of civil works of the project has been completed

LAHORE: All 27 trains for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project will reach Pakistan by next week. So far wagons of 17 trains have reached Lahore.

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

He said that the project has entered in its concluding phase as over 84% of civil works of the project has been completed. He said local and Chinese contractors and officials of all concerned departments are working day and night for early completion of the project.

National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) General Manager Salman Hafeez told the meeting participants that overall progress in civil works has reached 84%, besides completion of 40% electrical and mechanical works. He said that the progress on package-I (from Dera Gujjaran, Grand Trunk Road to Chauburji) is 89.5% completed. On package-II (from Chauburji to Ali Town) was 75% done while on Depot near Dera Gujran was 85% completed. On Stabling Yard near Ali Town was 86% done.

After the vacation of a restraining order by the Supreme Court, he said, construction works near Shalimar Garden, Ghulabi Bagh and Budhu's Tomb on Grand Trunk Road and Lakshmi Building on Mecleod Road are being executed with full momentum. The piling and pile caps work have been completed and 19 out of the total of 41 pears to be constructed at these points have also been completed. A total of 38 transoms and 90 u-tub girders will be launched in these places, all of which have been precast. Out of total 13 metro train stations, development works on 12 stations have reached 85% on package-I. Islam Park station is near completion, he maintained. On package-II, meeting participants were told that 802 u-tubs out of total 806 have been precast, while 706 of these structures have also been launched for construction of viaduct along this package.

Following the Supreme Court orders, Hassaan said as per court's direction development works near historical places, officials are taking utmost care while shifting of utility close to these places. He asked for ensuring public facilitation at all costs during the execution of work on the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2018.