Two train sets for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train reach Lahore

LAHORE: Two more train sets for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (LOLMT), comprising of 10 cars, reached Lahore on Wednesday and another two were on their way to Karachi port, while four more sets have been transported to Shanghai’s port in China to be dispatched to Pakistan soon.

Advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister and LOMTP Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassan revealed this while chairing the weekly progress review meeting.

It is important to mention here that a total of 27 train sets were being imported from China for the LOLMT project.

The meeting was informed that civil work on all the available area along package-I, starting from Dera Gujjran and ending at Chauburji, had been completed. However, work still needed to be resumed in areas where it had been stopped on court orders. About one fourth of the work for track laying along package-I, as well as the depot, had also been completed, while more than 80 per cent of the work had been completed on 12 out of the 13 stations under the package.

The meeting was further informed that more than 77 per cent of the civil work, besides 29 per cent electrical and mechanical work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, had so far been completed, which included construction of a bridge on Lahore Ring Road where a track was being presently laid.

National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that progress on package-I from Dera Gujjran, GT Road to Chouburji was 87.2 per cent, while progress on package-II from Chouburji to Ali Town stood 60.3 per cent. Furthermore, progress on depot near Dera Gujran stood at 82.1 per cent, while progress on construction activities near Ali Town was 80 per cent.

Construction of a 185 metres long bridge on the railway tracks near parachute colony was now in its final stages, which was expected to be completed by the end of this month. Diesel powered locomotives have also been imported from China to be used in case of emergency and for pulling trains to the depot in case of any breakdown. These locomotives have been parked in the depot at Dera Gujjran, the meeting was told.

Moreover, the meeting was informed that the pace of work on package –II had increased. So far, 588 out of the 806 U-Tub girders, required for construction of viaduct, had been cast while 453 of these structures have been launched. More than 92 per cent of the work for launching transoms for supporting U-Tub girders had also been completed. Restoration of roads was also being carried out in this package and at present 60 per cent roads have been rehabilitated.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan informed the meeting that the visiting four-member delegation from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank had highly appreciated the quality of work being executed on this project. The delegation had termed the project as a showcase of Pak-China friendship.

Other participants who attended the meeting included, member of provincial assembly (MPA) Shabaz Ahmad, Lahore Development Authority Chief Engineer Asrar Saeed Khan, Punjab Mass Transit Authority Operations Manager Sayed Ozair Shah, NESPAK General Manager Haseeb Khawaja, Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) Chief Engineer Saifur Rehman, senior officials of LESCO, WASA, PTCL, SUI GAS, traffic police, Railways, Rescue 1122, civil defence, chinese contractor CR-NOROINCO, representatives of Chinese engineering consultancy and local contractors.