Weekly meeting: Orange Train project to be completed after court verdict

LAHORE: ‘Punjab Speed’ for completion of development projects under the supervision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is famous the world over. Remaining work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will be completed within four to six months after the announcement of verdict by the honourable court.

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 the weekly progress review meeting, here, Wednesday.

He informed that a comprehensive plan for beautifying the surroundings of the 27km long track of Orange Line was being chalked out by Nespak for providing various civic facilities in a planned manner throughout the entire stretch. These things included executing horticulture works, construction of footpaths, installation of street lights, pedestrian walkways, earmarking of zebra crossings, provision of fancy lights and other such items of public convenience.

He told that an awareness campaign about road safety measures by observing traffic rules will be launched in the 50 selected schools of the city jointly by the education department, Nespak and traffic police.

Nespak General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that 77.6 percent of the civil works besides 29 percent electrical and mechanical 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 87.3 percent, on package-II from Chauburji to Ali Town was 61 percent, on depot near Dera Gujran was 82.2 percent while on stabling yard near Ali Town it was 80.4 percent.

The meeting was told that civil works on all the available area along package-I, from Dera Gujran to Chauburji, has been completed. However, it is yet to be resumed on spots where it has been stopped on the restraining orders by the court. About one-fourth of the work for laying track along package-I as well as the depot has also been completed while more than 80 percent of the work has been completed on 12 out of the 13 stations along this package.

Construction of a 185 meters long bridge on railway tracks near Parachute Colony was now in final stages, which was expected to complete by the end of this month.