LAHORE
So far 49.5 percent construction work of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project has been completed as pace of work on the project has also been increased. This was stated in the weekly steering committee meeting chaired by Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan here Wednesday.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassasn observed that regular provision of financial resources for this project by the EXIM Bank of China was a manifestation of the confidence of China’s government in the transparent governance and development policies of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. So far $440 million have been released by the EXIM Bank of China and about half of the construction work of the project has been completed, he said.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had lauded the efforts of all the relevant departments, engineers and contractors for successful casting of U-tub girders locally and their launch for laying track for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.
He said this structure had been precast for the first time in Pakistan and the very first attempt in this regard had been successful, which was a feather in the cap of the whole team associated with this project. This is a major leap forward in the quality and expeditious execution of development projects in Pakistan, he added. He said that so far five U-tub girders had been launched and the process would get momentum after the delivery of more cranes which were being imported. An average of two girders would be launched daily afterword, he expressed the hope.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan said that latest technology had been used to construct 1.7 kilometre long cut and cover part of the track, and major part of this portion had also been completed. This construction work has not affected the adjacent buildings in any way and they are fully safe and protected, he added.
The meeting was told that NESPAK had constituted a special task force for expeditious preparation of designs for the stations. A three-member delegation of architects from NESPAK will soon proceed to China and the UAE for visiting metro-stations in Dubai, Beijing and Shanghai. NESPAK has also prepared a proposal for linking underground Anarkali Station of Orange Line Train with Jain Mandar Station of Green Line Metro Bus through an underpass. The proposal has been forwarded to Punjab Mass Transit Authority for further deliberations.The meeting was told that U-tub girders had been precast for laying rail track for the metro train. Launch of these U-tub girders will start next week. Khawaja Ahmad Hassasn directed the authorities concerned for preparing a foolproof standard operating procedure (SOP), clearly specifying duties of relevant departments, for launch of these structures.