All train sets for OLMT project arrive in Pakistan

LAHORE: The shipment of all 27 train sets for the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project has been completed on Sunday with the arrival of the last consignment of six train sets at Karachi port.

Around 21 train sets had already reached Lahore and were parked at the depot at Dera Gujjran and at Ali Town, Raiwind Road, Advisor to Punjab chief minister and Orange Line Metro Train Project Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan told reporters during inspection of the ongoing civil works at an elevated station near Lakshmi Chowk and underground station near GPO.

He said the construction of the roof of the GPO station would be completed during the current week as more than 70 per cent of the construction work had been completed. The Mall Road would be opened for traffic by March 31 at this particular junction after finalising the relevant structures, he added.

He said that after the completion of the 12-kilometre-long elevated viaduct for the train along package-I, from Dera Gujjran to McLeod Road last week, laying of metallic track for the train and execution of electrical and mechanical works between station No 5 and No 11, from Pakistan Mint to Lakshmi station, had been commenced by the Chinese contractor for making the viaduct available for the train’s operation by the end of this month.

The work on the first four metro stations at Dera Gujjran, Islamia Park, Salamat Pura and Mehmood Booti, had now reached the final stages, he said and added that testing of track between Depot and station No 4 had already been carried out.

Hassaan said that rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads from Bohar Wala Chowk to Lakshmi Chowk were being executed speedily and efforts had been accelerated for completing this portion at the earliest.

He further said that work for the construction of 13-kilometre-long elevated track from Chouburji Chowk to Ali Town had been accelerated and all possible resources were being utilised for completing the remaining work on the viaduct during the current week.

Earlier, OLMT Project Director Hammadul Hassan, NESPAK Construction Manager Furqan Ahmad and Habib Construction CEO Shahid Saleem briefed Khawaja Hassaan about the progress of work on package-I of the project.