68.25pc work on metro train project completed

LAHORE

International-standard, air-conditioned and comfortable coaches, which are compatible with Pakistani weather conditions have been manufactured for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train which will provide safe, swift and smart mode of transportation to more than 250,000 commuters daily in the provincial metropolis.

This was revealed by Chairman of steering committee for the project Khawaja Ahmad Hassan during a weekly progress review meeting on Wednesday. He said first batch of rolling stock for LOMT, manufactured in China, is being shipped to Pakistan which will arrive in Lahore during the first week of July. Laying of track for parking these carriages in depot at Dera Gujjaran has already commenced, he said, adding the train will have an operation speed of 80-km per hour and a total of 27 trains, each comprising of five coaches, will be operated at an interval of five to ten minutes for catering to the needs of the passengers.

The meeting was told that so far 68.25 per cent civil work on the project has been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chouburji was 82.59 per cent, on package-II from Chouburji to Ali Town was 50.50 per cent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 73.05 per cent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 66.97 per cent. For Package-I, all the 341 transom and 670 U-tub girders required for construction of elevated viaduct have been precast and are being rapidly launched along the available area.

For Package-II, construction of piles, pile caps and piers has been completed and work to precast 819 U-tub girders and 395 transoms has also started. More than 70 per cent work for rehabilitation of roads from Chouburji to Thokar Niaz Baig has also been completed. All efforts were being made for completing construction work of four stations of this package, Chauburji, Gulshan Ravi, Samanabad by the 30th of May while the remaining nine stations will be completed till 30th June.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan directed for gearing up construction activity on package-II. He underlined the need for adopting safety measures during execution of work on the project and said that areas where work was in progress should be barricaded to avoid collision of vehicles.

Banks men should be deployed to facilitate the reversing of vehicles and reflecting signage should be pasted on the site.

He said sufficient lighting arrangements should also be in place during night. Fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment should be in place. Staff must be trained to operate the fire-fighting equipment. Flammable material should be handled and stored carefully and stored in designated places separately from ignition sources. Clear access and egress must be ensured to and from the site, he maintained and said that safe speed limits must be defined and implemented. He called upon all the relevant departments as well as the contractors for getting their staff trained by Rescue 1122 for adopting safety measure in case of any untoward incident.

Chief Engineer, LDA, Asrar Saeed, General Manager Punjab Mass Transit Authority Syed Ozair Shah, General Manager Nespak Salman Hafeez, Chief Engineer, TEPA, Saif-ur-Rehman, senior officials of Lesco, PTCL, sui gas, traffic police, railways, Rescue 1122, civil defence, Chinese contractor and others attended the meeting.