Initial work on Orange Train track begins, says Hassaan

LAHORE

Preliminary work for laying track for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project has commenced at Islam Park station while first consignment of rolling stock from China will be received in coming June.

This was revealed by Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the project while presiding over the weekly progress review meeting here on Wednesday. He informed that a total of 27 trains, each comprising of five cars will be operated which will cover 27 kilometers journey in just 45 minutes for the benefit of 250,000 commuters daily.

Kh Ahmad Hassaan told a total of 11 elevated stations are being built along package-I of the project. Grey structure of six out of the 11 elevated stations along package-I, situated at Dera Gujran, Islam Park, Salamatpura, Mehmood Booti, Pakistan Mint and Railway Station, has been completed and handed over to CR-NORINCO for executing relevant electrical and mechanical works, which would be completed in 105 days.

The meeting was told that construction work on all the 13 elevated stations along package-II of the project was in full swing and is scheduled to be completed by 15th of July. Frameworks for fabricating precast structures for construction of viaduct have been imported, casting yard has been prepared and work to precast transoms and U-tub girders for package-II will commence in first week of next month.

The meeting was told that work for construction of a new area drain, from Haji Camp at Nichelson Road to River Ravi via Laxmi Chowk and Chauburji, will commence next week. The project has been divided into two packages and will be completed at a cost of Rs2.16 billion.

Meeting was informed that 64 percent civil work of the project has been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujran, GT Road to Chauburji was 81 percent, on package-II from Chauburji to Ali Town was 49 percent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 71 percent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 54 percent.

The meeting decided to rehabilitate the existing drain from Dera Gujran to Sukh Nehr and constructing a new drain from this point to Coop Store for improving drainage in the area. The drain will be covered and footpaths will be constructed for the pedestrians. Ramps for convenience of special persons using wheel chairs will also be constructed along this footpath near stations of metro train.

Member Provincial Assembly, Chaudhry Shahbaz Ahmad, Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmad, Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed, Chief Engineer TEPA Saif-ur-Rehman, General Manager Punjab Mass Transit Authority Syed Ozair Shah, senior officials of NESPAK, Lesco, PTCL, Sui Gas, traffic police, Railways, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, Chinese contractor, CR- NOROINCO, representatives of Chinese Engineering Consultant and local contractors of the project attended the meeting.