LAHORE, May 14: Trains will be switching over to summer timings from Sunday (today) —- one month late for the first time in the history of the railways. It has been the tradition that winter timings come into effect on Oct 15 and remain in force till April 14 every year since the early quarter of 20th century when railways was constructed in this part of the subcontinent which now comprises Pakistan.

Official sources say the closure of the Lahore Cantonment-Lahore railway station section at Dharampura section, where an underpass is being constructed, delayed implementation of the summer timings.

“The closure of the main section necessitated adjustments in the winter schedule which led to confusion. The (PR) authorities decided to delay implementation of the summer timings to save the passengers from further confusion,” they said.

The work on the underpass started in December last year and was scheduled to complete by April 15. However, it was delayed for a month and has yet to be completed.

Punjab communication and works department officials told Dawn on Saturday that the Dharampura underpass was first of its kind and different from the ones built along the canal.

“It is a complicated project, involving the passage of trains and vehicles. It will be the longest underpass and requires much more time to be ready. The delayed arrival of summer delayed drying of the concrete,” an official of the construction company said.

Punjab Minister for Communication Chaudhry Zaheeruddin recently announced that work on the underpass would complete by the end of May.