LAHORE - Two more train sets for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (LOLMT), comprising of 10 cars, reached Lahore on Wednesday, another two were on their way to Karachi through ship while four more sets have been transported to Shanghais port of China for onward dispatch to Pakistan. A total of 27 train sets are being imported for LOLMT.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Punjab and Chairman of the steering committee for LOMTP, Khawaja Ahmad Hassan revealed this while chairing the weekly progress review meeting, here, Wednesday.

The meeting was told that civil works on all the available area along package-I, from Dera Gujjran 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.

The meeting was informed that more than 77 percent of the civil work besides 29 percent electrical and mechanical work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has so far been completed including construction of a bridge on Lahore Ring Road where laying of track for the train was in progress these days.

General Manager NESPAK Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that progress on package-I from Dera Gujjran, G.T. Road to Chouburji was 87.2 per cent, on package-II from Choburji to Ali Town was 60.3 per cent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 82.1 per cent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 80 per cent.

Construction of a 185 meters long bridge on railway tracks near parachute colony was now in final stages, which was expected to finish by the end of this month. Diesel turning locomotive has also been imported from China for using in case of emergency and pulling trains to the depot in case of any breakdown. These locomotives have been parked in Depot at Dera Gujjran, the meeting was told.

The meeting was further informed that pace of work on package –II has improved. 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 percent of the work for launching transoms for supporting U-Tub girders has also been completed. Restoration of roads was also being carried out in this package and so far 60 percent roads have been rehabilitated.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan informed the meeting that the visiting four member delegation from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has highly appreciated the quality of work being executed on this project. The delegation has termed the project as a showcase of Pak-China friendship. MPA Ch Shabaz Ahmad, Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed Khan, Manager Operations Punjab Mass Transit Authority Sayed Ozair Shah, General Manager NESPAK Haseeb Khawaja, Chief Engineer TEPA Saif Ur Rehman, 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.