All train sets for Orange Line now in Pakistan
21 trains of mega public transport project have already reached Lahore
Orange Line of Lahore’s Metro Train will be synchronized with historic architecture PHOTO: APP
LAHORE:
With the arrival of remaining six train sets at Karachi port, the shipment of all 27 train sets for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) was completed on Sunday.
Punjab Chief Minister's Adviser and the OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ajmad Hassaan said that 21 trains of the mega public transport project have already reached Lahore and were parked at the OLMT depot in Dera Gujjran and stabling yard at Ali Town on Raiwind Road.
He was speaking to reporters during the inspection of ongoing civil works of Lakshmi Chowk and GPO metro train stations on Sunday.
Hassaan told media that over 70% development works of GPO station have been completed. "Construction of GPO station's roof will be completed during the current week. The Mall Road will be opened for traffic by March 31 after completion of relevant construction works."
Orange Line Metro Train: Govt sets deadline for completion of central station
He highlighted that after completion of 12-kilometre long elevated viaduct section between Dera Gujjran and McLeod Road, laying of rail track and execution of electrical and mechanical works had also been completed from station no. 5 to station no. 11 (from Pakistan Mint to Lakshmi Station) by Chinese contractors.
He said work on the first four metro stations, including Dera Gujjran, Islam Park, Salamat Pura and Mehmood Booti, is at the finishing stage. Testing of track between the OLMT depot and station no. 4 was already being carried out by operating along this stretch, he maintained. Hassaan added that rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads from Bohar Wala Chowk to Lakshmi Chowk are also being executed speedily and efforts have been accelerated for completing this portion of roads at the earliest to avoid traffic congestion during peak hours.
Hassaan said that work for construction of 13-kilometer long elevated track from Chauburji to Ali Town have been geared up and all possible resources are being utilised to complete remaining development work of viaduct during the current week.
The chairman was accompanied by Project Director Hammadul Hassan, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) Construction Manager Furqan Ahmad and Habib Construction Services CEO Shahid Saleem. They informed Hassaan about the pace and progress of different development activities underway on the project.
Chinese to supervise metro for first five years
The 27-kilometre metro train project is estimated to cost over $1.65 billion (Rs165 billion), which is being funded through a loan by China's Exim Banks. According to project documents, around $1 billion will be directly transferred to the Chinese contractors, CR-NORINCO, for procurement of the rolling stock. The remaining amount will be transferred to Pakistan for construction of track and provision of allied infrastructure.
The project is part of the city metro network, When completed, it will connect Raiwind, Multan Road, Mcleod Road, Lahore Junction Railway Station and the Grand Trunk Road. It will be the first line of the Lahore Metro, which is country's first mass rapid transit train system.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2018.
With the arrival of remaining six train sets at Karachi port, the shipment of all 27 train sets for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) was completed on Sunday.
Punjab Chief Minister's Adviser and the OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ajmad Hassaan said that 21 trains of the mega public transport project have already reached Lahore and were parked at the OLMT depot in Dera Gujjran and stabling yard at Ali Town on Raiwind Road.
He was speaking to reporters during the inspection of ongoing civil works of Lakshmi Chowk and GPO metro train stations on Sunday.
Hassaan told media that over 70% development works of GPO station have been completed. "Construction of GPO station's roof will be completed during the current week. The Mall Road will be opened for traffic by March 31 after completion of relevant construction works."
Orange Line Metro Train: Govt sets deadline for completion of central station
He highlighted that after completion of 12-kilometre long elevated viaduct section between Dera Gujjran and McLeod Road, laying of rail track and execution of electrical and mechanical works had also been completed from station no. 5 to station no. 11 (from Pakistan Mint to Lakshmi Station) by Chinese contractors.
He said work on the first four metro stations, including Dera Gujjran, Islam Park, Salamat Pura and Mehmood Booti, is at the finishing stage. Testing of track between the OLMT depot and station no. 4 was already being carried out by operating along this stretch, he maintained. Hassaan added that rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads from Bohar Wala Chowk to Lakshmi Chowk are also being executed speedily and efforts have been accelerated for completing this portion of roads at the earliest to avoid traffic congestion during peak hours.
Hassaan said that work for construction of 13-kilometer long elevated track from Chauburji to Ali Town have been geared up and all possible resources are being utilised to complete remaining development work of viaduct during the current week.
The chairman was accompanied by Project Director Hammadul Hassan, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) Construction Manager Furqan Ahmad and Habib Construction Services CEO Shahid Saleem. They informed Hassaan about the pace and progress of different development activities underway on the project.
Chinese to supervise metro for first five years
The 27-kilometre metro train project is estimated to cost over $1.65 billion (Rs165 billion), which is being funded through a loan by China's Exim Banks. According to project documents, around $1 billion will be directly transferred to the Chinese contractors, CR-NORINCO, for procurement of the rolling stock. The remaining amount will be transferred to Pakistan for construction of track and provision of allied infrastructure.
The project is part of the city metro network, When completed, it will connect Raiwind, Multan Road, Mcleod Road, Lahore Junction Railway Station and the Grand Trunk Road. It will be the first line of the Lahore Metro, which is country's first mass rapid transit train system.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2018.