LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and its subsidiary, Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa), have decided to construct the track of the Orange Line metro train away from Chauburji and Shalamar Gardens in order to save these historical/heritage sites from environmental impacts, maintaining their view clear as it is at present.

The project’s executing agencies (LDA/Tepa) have rejected some experts’ recommendation to construct the track and pass the train underground while passing the aforementioned sections, declaring it infeasible due to various technical issues, Dawn has learnt.

According to officials, the alignment of the 27.1km long Orange Line that would be elevated as per the plan, except the underground 1.75km long section from Jain Mandir to Lakshmi via GPO Chowk, has been changed while passing the Chauburji and Shalamar Gardens sections.

“Previously, there was a plan to construct the elevated track and pass the metro train in the maiden line of the road. But after the public hearing on the project and concerns and suggestions by some of the participants to pass the train from these sections underground like Jain Mandir to Lakshmi, we started working out to resolve the issue,” Tepa’s Additional Chief Engineer Khalid Alvi told Dawn on Friday.

However, he added ,after detailed discussions with the consultants it was decided to change alignment of the project — particularly at these sections — keeping the elevated track at extreme left of the road instead of the maiden line while passing Chubaurji (from Samanabad Mor side) and Shalamar Gardens (from UET, GT Road side).


Move follows objections from certain quarters


He said as per the new plan/design, the track and the train would pass over the roadside localities at Samanabad Mor-Chauburji section and the TMA office, situated at the extreme right side of the main road (UET, GT Road).

The official said since the new alignment would not disturb the existing view of the two heritage sites, the top authorities had given a go-ahead recently.

Talking about the experts’ point of view to pass the track/train underground from these sections, Mr Alvi termed the proposal as not feasible as per engineers.

“If we construct these portion underground, it involves escalation in the total project cost. Moreover, it may enhance the project’s deadline,” he added.

To a question, Mr Alvi said owing to change in the alignment, the LDA/Tepa would have to acquire additional land from the localities situated at left side of the road (Samanabad Mor to Chauburji to MAO College Road) and right side of the road passing along the Shalamar Gardens.

Environment Department Director Naseemur Rehman said though the matter was discussed by two committees of experts — entrusted with the task to review the project’s Environment Impact Assessment report in detail, the executing agencies didn’t agree with the experts’ opinions.

“Not only the experts, I had myself asked the project implementing agencies to construct the track underground while passing Chauburji and Shalamar Gardens. But they didn’t agree, saying it would not be feasible on technical grounds,” he added.

He said the project EIA report had already been approved by the environment department conditionally.

Under various conditions, the executing agencies would be liable to spend one per cent of the total project cost on environment-related issues, Mr Rehman said.

ACTION: A monitoring team of the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) had arrested owners and some workers of two canteens being run at General Hospital, the Ferozepur Road, and Doctors’ Hospital and Canal Road for overcharging.

According to a spokesman, those arrested include Irfan, Shabbir, Javaid, Altaf, Riasat, Ghulam Hussain, Khalid, Nadeem, Amanat, Zeeshan, Faisal, Junaid, Haroon and Naseem.

Meanwhile, various CDGL price magistrates arrested 19 shopkeepers besides imposing fine of Rs75,500 on others for overcharging in open markets.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2015

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