Home stretch: OLMT project enters testing phase

Project’s maiden run announced from Dera Gujjran to Anarkali on October 28

LAHORE: The Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project has finally entered its testing phase. The government has announced its maiden run of the country’s first electric metro train from Dera Gujjran to Anarkali on October 28 (Monday).

However, commercial operations will commence from January 2020. Presiding over a meeting reviewing the project on Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar announced that following the provision of electricity from the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), the electricity-powered metro train will embark on its maiden voyage with members of the provincial cabinet on board.

Previously, former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and engineers from China were testing metro trains using diesel locomotives. The OLMT project is designed to operate using high-voltage electricity. However, the government has imported two diesel locomotives as a backup in case of an emergency.

During the meeting, it was revealed that 13 stations of OLMT Package-I, stretching from Dera Gujjran to Anarkali, have been completed. Engineers are already running metro trains for testing purposes and to synchronise a range of systems for the past couple of weeks.

‘Energised’ OLMT track poses safety risk

It was also highlighted that another 11 stations of OLMT Package-II will be completed by early November. Once this is done, the entire track will be tested.

Speaking at the meeting, the chief minister directed the officials concerned to complete the project as soon as possible. He maintained that the fare for the metro train will be fixed according to the purchasing power of the common man.

“Hopefully citizens will be able to travel on the metro train by January,” he concluded. Punjab Transport Minister Jehanzed, Khan Khitchi and other officials were also present during the meeting.

On the other hand, an engineer speaking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity highlighted that although sub-stations for the project have been energised, some work on OLMT Package-II (from Chauburji to Ali Town) is still underway and will probably take another two to three weeks to complete.

OLMT ‘empowered’ to enter testing phase

Construction work on the OLMT project started on October 25, 2015. The total length of the project is 27.12 kilometres, out of which 25.4km is elevated while 1.72km is underground to preserve historical sites.

OLMT has 26 stations of which 24 have been constructed at the height of 12 metres while the remaining two stations are underground. Around 27 trains have been allocated for the project, each of which has five bogies stretching 20 metres-long.

Separate seats have been allocated for women, senior citizens and differently-abled persons. Meanwhile, a public address system has been installed for the convenience of the passengers. The doors of the electric train are fully automatic and are also installed at the platform to ensure the safety of passengers.

The train will complete a journey of 27km from Ali Town to Dera Gujran in 45 minutes. It will pass through the congested areas of the city where more than 250,000 passengers travel on a daily basis. Official documents highlight that within the next few years, OLMT will facilitate 500,000 passengers daily.

Once the project is completed, it will connect Raiwind, Multan Road, Mcleod Road, Lahore Junction Railway Station and Grand Trunk Road. It will be the first line of the Lahore Metro, which is the country’s first mass rapid transit system.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2019.