The Orange Line Metro Train did chug once when Shahbaz Sharif personally went on a test run of on May 16 last year. He got on the train from Islam Park station and got off at Chowk Laxmi. The presence of the Chinese consul general was meaningful. The Chinese contractors and finances have made the dream possible. Since then, we have not heard of a positive development on the landmark project. Recently, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar formed a committee to review the operation and maintenance cost of the Orange Line. This suggests that the project is nearing completion. The last known deadline set for it (May 20) has passed silently. The project has remained under the Supreme Court scanner and on April 16, Justice Azmat Saeed ordered the government to complete the project.

During the last decade, under Shahbaz Sharif, Lahore has seen several infrastructure projects executed. Orange Line Metro Train was going to be one of them. It is also a glowing tribute to Pakistan-China friendship. Lahore has been fortunate to be the pioneering metro train city of Pakistan. Other provinces have lagged behind in mass transit projects. The project would have been completed months ago had there not been hurdles created for it.

The project will cover a length of 27.12 kilometrrs. Winding down the narrowest lanes of the city, its 25.4 kilometres track is elevated while 1.72 kilometres track has been made underground to protect historical places. The Orange Line metro has 26 stations. 24 stations are at the height of 12 metres whereas two stations are underground. The number of trains is 27. Each train has five bogies. The train will travel the 27 kilometers distance from Ali Town to Dera Gujjaran in 45 minutes.

The project will ply on one of the busiest routes in the city. It is expected that 250,000 passengers will travel on it every day. The number is likely to grow. In the future the train will likely facilitate 500,000 passengers daily. The project was executed in four packages to expedite work. The track is being constructed under Package-I and II while depots and stabling yards are being constructed under Package-III and IV. The construction work started on October 25, 2015 for the line, on January 22, 2016 for the depot at Dera Gujjaran and stabling yard in Ali Town. Such projects should never be a political issue. The incumbent government should own the project and feel pride in opening it. *