Orange Train to be automatic, driverless

LAHORE: Lahore Orange Line Metro Train will be fully automatic which will operate without a driver at a commercial speed of 35 kilometers per hour for covering the end to end journey in only 45 minutes.

Chairman of the steering committee for Project (LOMTP) Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan informed this during the weekly progress review meeting held here on Wednesday. He told that one set of train has been loaded in the ship at Shanghai Port of China and was scheduled to reach Karachi by the 15th of September and Lahore by the end of next month.

Civil works of the two high voltage sub-stations at Multan Road near Allama Iqbal Town and at GT Road near University of Engineering and Technology is now in final stages and both the stations will be made operational by the mid of next month for providing electricity for the operation of the train.

The meeting was informed that 73 percent of the civil work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujran, GT Road to Chauburji was 85.6 percent, on package-II from Chauburji to Ali Town was 53 percent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 78.4 percent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 74.3 percent. An overall 15 percent electrical and mechanical work of the project has also been completed. Civil work on available area along package-I had almost been completed, the meeting was told.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan directed that every station of the metro train should be treated as an individual project and a special task force may be deputed at every point for speedy execution of civil as well as E&M works simultaneously besides fixing separate deadlines for completing work on every station.

The meeting was informed that work for construction of a storm water drain at McLeod Road was being executed at five points and it was expected to be completed within one month on this road. As many as 191 traffic wardens have been deployed for working in three shifts along package-II of the project for ensuring smooth flow of traffic in these areas. Nespak has finalised the design for construction of special enclaves on footpaths along the metro train for placing skips of collecting solid waste, the meeting was told.