Rs16 billion relocation compensation paid to OLMT victims

The project is being replicated in other parts of the country


Our Correspondent February 02, 2018
PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The government has paid a sum of Rs16 billion on account of relocation compensation to property owners whose land has been acquired for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project.

This was disclosed by Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser and OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan as he chaired the project’s weekly progress review meeting. He highlighted that all the departments concerned and Chinese and Pakistani contractors were working tirelessly for early completion of the project which would transform the provincial capital into an international city by providing swift and efficient public transport facility to over 250,000 passengers daily.

Hassaan said examples set in Lahore were now being followed by other cities of Pakistan as similar mass transit projects were being replicated in Karachi and Peshawar. “Currently, around 150,000 people are travelling on Lahore Metro Bus Service. Once fully operational, over 400,000 passengers will have the best public transport facility in the provincial capital,” he said.

He said remaining 10 train sets for the OLMT project have been dispatched from Shanghai and expected to reach Pakistani in the current month. Hassaan highlighted that so far 84% of civil works of the project has been completed and the project has entered into its completion phase.

Hassaan directed project contractors, utility companies and the government agencies working on the projects to take utmost care while working near heritage sites to avoid any damage to historic monuments. He asked the officials concerned to ensure public facilitation at all costs during the execution of work on this project. “Billboards should be placed on prominent places to guide people about alternative routes,” he said.

National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting participants that overall 84.4% of civil development works has been completed besides 41% electrical and mechanical works of the metro train project.

The meeting participants were informed that after vacation of restraining order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, construction work near Shalimar Garden, Ghulabi Bagh and Budhu’s Tomb at Grand Trunk Road and Lakshmi Building at Mcleod Road was being executed with full momentum.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2018.

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