‘55pc civil work on metro train project completed’

LAHORE

More that 55 percent civil work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed and all possible measures were being adopted for minimising public inconvenience during the execution of this biggest infrastructure development scheme in the history of the provincial metropolis.

This was said by Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan, chairman of steering committee while chairing the weekly progress review meeting here Wednesday. He said that successful precast and launch of more than 100 U-tub girders so far was a milestone for the local construction sector in Pakistan besides introduction of a new trend of executing development works without suspending routine daily life activities of the people.

The meeting was informed that tenders for construction of a new storm water drain starting from Haji Camp at Nichelson Road and leading to the River Ravi via Lakshmi Chow, Chouburji and other areas would be opened on November 18.

This 13-kilometer long drain will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.4 billion. More than 500 meters of underground portion of the trains track from Jain Mander Chowk to PIA Planetarium had been excavated.

Work for construction of piles, pile caps and pears for the stations have been completed. Gray structure of four of the 11 stations will be handed over to CR-NORINCO in December for carrying out electrical and mechanical works while the remaining seven stations will be entrusted to the Chinese contractor in January 2017.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan informed that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was desirous of giving concession in property tax to the shops and business offices situated along the route of the metro train which had been affected due to the ongoing civil works on the project.

He directed the officials of Excise and Taxation Department to carry out a comprehensive survey of such business concerns and submit report and recommendations in this regard at the earliest.