LAHORE

The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project is right on track as more than 48 percent construction work of the project has so far been completed besides substantial progress on nine out of the 11 elevated stations being built from Dera Gujjran to Mcleod Road.

This was stated in the weekly progress review meeting of steering committee of Orange Line Metro Train project headed by its Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan here Wednesday. The meeting was told that NESPAK had constituted a special task force for expeditious preparation of designs for the stations. A three-member delegation of architects from NESPAK will soon proceed to China and the UAE for visiting metro-stations in Dubai, Beijing and Shanghai.

NESPAK has also prepared a proposal for linking underground Anarkali Station of Orange Line with Jain Mandar Station of Green Line Metro Bus through an underpass. The proposal has been forwarded to Punjab Mass Transit Authority for deliberations.

The meeting was told that U-tub girders had been precast for laying rail track for the metro train. Launch of these U-tub girders will start next week.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan directed the officials concerned for preparing a foolproof standard operating procedure (SOP), clearly specifying duties of relevant departments, for launch of these structures.

He directed that all the departments concerned be taken on-board in advance especially the traffic police. He directed provision of comprehensive and adequate security to the Chinese experts working on the project in Lahore. He warned that no negligence would be tolerated.

He directed the officials of Punjab Mass Transit Authority to take up the matter with the relevant departments.

The chairman also directed provision of water supply and sewerage connections at the metro train stations besides making firefighting arrangements at the places. He directed that work on construction of parts of Kinnaird High School, Empress Road and the two schools along Multan Road be speeded up.