LDA floats tenders worth over Rs38 million

City developer fixes May 9 as date for opening tenders

LAHORE: As most underground civil works of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project, the section near General Post Office (GPO), has been completed the city developer has floated multi-million rupees tenders to rebuild demolished portion of the GPO, Saint Andrews Church and other allied buildings.

Official tender documents made available to The Express Tribune show that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has invited bids from engineering firms for shifting, reconstruction of the boundary wall of the historical building of the GPO. The authority’s estimate suggests it would cost public kitty a sum of Rs10.83 million and would be completed in a month’s time.

Similarly, the reconstruction of boundary wall and development of courtyard area of the Saint Andrew Church would cost Rs9.98 million. The city developer has also invited bids for the construction of boundary wall of Aiwan-e-Auqaf parking area situated at the Mall Road. The reconstruction is estimated to cost Rs2.5 million.

Documents showed the reconstruction of the boundary wall of the Account General (AG) Office and development of parking space, situated at Edward Road, would cost Rs6.68 million. The reconstruction of boundary wall, security officials’ room of the Lahore Customs House is estimated to cost Rs4.98 million and shifting, reconstruction of the boundary wall of the National Bank of Pakistan, Mall Road, would cost approximately Rs3.30 million. The authority has fixed May 9 as the opening date of tenders after which contracts would be awarded to successful bidders.

Meanwhile, former Supreme Court of Pakistan judge and Special Committee of Experts, constituted by the apex court, Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain, on Saturday, called a meeting of various stakeholders on Monday to take input from them on the ongoing construction of the metro train project.

Justice Hussain also paid a surprise visit to metro train sites to inspect the progress and pace of development work. He visited GPO Chowk, Supreme Court Registry, Saint Andrew Church, Shah Chiragh Building and Mauj Darya Shrine falling in the proximity of the project.

Giving an update on the progress on metro train project, Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser and the OLMT Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan highlighted that overall 87.5% of development works of the project have been completed. He voiced hope that the metro train would be partially functional by next month.

He pointed out that Chinese contractors have already laid rails at 63% section of the metro track and have been directed to complete the remaining development work at the earliest. Right now around 700 Chinese engineers and 2,500 workers are completing various development works on 24/7 basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2018.