75 % civil work for Orange Train is now completed : Kh Ahmad Hassan

Lahore : More than two thirds (75 per cent ) of the civil work for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is now complete while 12 out of the 13 stations along Package-I from Dera Gujjran to Chauburji are also near completion with 77 percent average progress at every place.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Punjab and Chairman of the steering committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (LOMTP) Khawaja Ahmad Hassan informed this while chairing the weekly progress review meeting, here, Wednesday.

He told that the Chief Minister, Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a special committee for finalizing befitting arrangement for the unveiling ceremony of the first shipment of rolling stock which is likely to arrive Lahore very soon. The ceremony will be held on the 7^th of October at metro trains depot at Dera Gujjran.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan directed for finishing two metro stations at Islam Park and Salamat Pura as model stations and concluding the task by the 15^th of October on priority basis. He asked for employing more labour at these points for this purpose.

He asked for undertaking survey of roads which will be used for carrying rolling stock to depot at Dera Gujjran and directed traffic police for providing escort pilots for leading the carriers. He urged all the relevant utility services departments for finalizing their arrangements in this purpose.

The meeting was informed that 75 per cent of the civil work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujjran, G.T.Road to Chauburji was 86.5 per cent, on package-II from Choburji to Ali Town was 56 per cent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 80 per cent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 77 per cent.

The meeting was further told that 97 per cent work has been done for construction of a bridge on Lahore Ring Road near Quaid-e-Azam interchange and 75 percent work has been executed on another bridge which was under-construction on Railway Lines near Parachute Colony for building elevated track for Orange Line. Civil work on Package-II, from Chauburji to Ali Town, has also been geared up and average of seven girders were being launched daily for construction of viaduct for the train. Design for horticulture works along G.T.Road has been handed over to PHA for plantation, the meeting was told.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan observed that the project was a showcase of Pak- China friendship. He directed for taking the project as a challenge by executing work on fast track and setting short timelines for accomplishing various tasks. He directed the civil and E&M contractors for increasing labour force for this purpose for completing the project as per the deadline.

Deputy Mayor Nazeer Khan Swati, General Manage Operations Punjab Mass Transit Authority Syed Oazir Shah, Chief Engineer TEPA Saif Ur Rahman, 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.