LAHORE: A sum of Rs16 billion has so far been paid to the owners of properties which had been acquired for clearing passage for track of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, the project that will transform Lahore into an international city.
Adviser to the chief minister and chairman of the steering committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (LOMTP) Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan observed this while chairing a weekly progress review meeting here on Wednesday.
He told the meeting that the remaining 10 train sets for orange line will be dispatched from Shanghai, China by February 20 which would reach Lahore by the end of next month. The meeting was informed that a sum of Rs 500 million were being spent for carrying out horticulture works along the 27-kilometre long corridor of the train and more than 10,000 new trees and plants will be planted for this purpose. Parks and Horticulture Authority and Nespak have prepared comprehensive plans for establishing green areas on around 65 acres in this regard.
General Manager, Nespak, Salman Hafeez told the meeting that 84.4 per cent civil work besides 41 per cent electrical and mechanical work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chouburji was 89.5 per cent, on package-II from Chouburji to Ali Town was 77 per cent, on Depot near Dera Gujjran was 85.2 per cent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 86.1 per cent. Moreover about 41 percent of electrical and mechanical works of the project has also been executed, he added.
He said that with the completion of more than 84 percent of the civil work, the project has entered the concluding phase and all relevant departments were working day and night, in close coordination with one another, for its earliest completion. The meeting was told that after the vacation of restraining order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, construction work near Shalimar Garden, Ghulabi Bagh and Budhu’s tomb at GT Road and Lakshmi building on Mecleod Road was being executed with full momentum. Piling and pile caps work has been completed and 19 out of the total of 41 pears to be constructed at these points have also been completed. A total of 38 transoms and 90 U-tub girders will be launched at these places, all of which have been precast, the meeting was told. Average 85 per cent work has also been completed on 12 out of the 13 stations along package one. Islam Park station was near completion.
Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan directed for following Supreme Court’s directions in letter and spirit while executing work near historical places and taking utmost care while shifting of utility serves close to these places. He asked for ensuring public facilitation at all costs during the execution of work on this project. He asked for prominent placement of big billboards for guidance and awareness of commuters about alternative routes during the closer of GPO Chowk.