‘72pc Orange Train work complete’

LAHORE: World Heritage Committee accepted Pakistan’s stance by discarding the proposed draft decision forwarded by the critics to put Shalimar Garden Lahore, on the list of ‘World Heritage in Danger’ during its 41st session held recently in Poland.

Chairman of the steering committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan observed this, while talking to reporters in his office on Wednesday, after chairing the weekly progress review meeting about the project. He said this was made possible as a result of effective presentation of technical data, heritage impact assessment report, vibration report and other relevant research studies about Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project before the World Heritage Committee.

He said that 72 percent of the civil works on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujran, GT Road to Chouburji was 85.3 percent, on package-II from Chouburji to Ali Town was 52.5 percent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 77 percent while on stabling yard near Ali Town it was 73.2 percent.

The meeting was told that track for the Orange Line Metro Train has been laid up to a length of five kilometers out of the 13,4 kilometers long stretch of Package-I. The work has been started from Islam Park Station and the track laying has been completed beyond Pakistan Mint Station.

Gray structure of all the 11 elevated stations along this project and one underground Anarkali station has been completed and handed over to CR-NORINCO for executing electrical and mechanical works. Construction of bridge on Lahore Ring Road near Quaid-e-Azam Interchange, for passing through the train track, has also been completed.

Digging work for constructing new drain from Haji Camp to River Ravi via Chouburji, Sham Nagar and other areas has also commenced and steel structure was being laid from Chouburji towards Lake Road.

The meeting was told that a new sewer line will be laid to resolve drainage issues of Muslim Block Allama Iqbal Town at a cost of Rs6 million which will connect this area to Huma Block, Allama Iqbal Town near Edhi Centre. Construction of the new block of Government Girls High School, Chappar Stop, comprising of 24 classrooms, was in final stages and will be completed by the end of this month, the meeting was assured.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan directed that two elevated stations, situated at Islam Park and Salamat Pura, may be completed in every respect, by completing all civil, electrical and mechanical works, by the 31st of July so that these structures could be used as ‘models’ for completing other stations of the project.

He directed for safeguarding the recently acquired land for the project near Sukh Nehr by removing the encroachments which were being constructed there. He directed for removing debris and other hurdles from Chouburji, Samanabad and Sabazazar intersections along Multan Road for facilitating smooth flow of traffic.

Mehar Ishtiaq MNA, Ch Shahbaz MPA, Senior Deputy Mayor Nazir Khan Sawati, Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed, Chief Engineer TEPA Saif-ur-Rehman, General Manager NESPAK Salman Hafeez, senior officials of Lesco, Wasa, 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.