LAHORE: The Orange Line Metro Train will be commissioned on trial basis on Feb 28, said the chairman of the steering committee on the project, Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, while presiding over a weekly review meeting here on Wednesday.

He ordered completion of arrangements for the train’s trail run through five stations built along the GT Road on a 5.5 kilometers stretch from Dera Gujran to Pakistan Mint.

“It should be prepared as a model area by carpeting and lane marking roads, horticulture work at the spots reserved as greenbelts, constructing pedestrian walkways along the track and providing other required services.”

He also ordered provision of electricity connection from the newly-established substation, near Engineering University, to Metro’s depot at Dera Gujjran by the first week of February for commission of the train by the end of the month.

He told the meeting that so far a total of 17 train sets for Orange Line had arrived in Pakistan from China, while the remaining 10 sets would be imported within the next few weeks.

Construction of pillars close to Budhu’s tomb and Ghulabi Bagh on the GT Road and Lakshmi building on the Macleod Road has been completed. Track at these points will soon be completed by launching precast transoms and u-tub girders.

The land required for construction work on the premises of Baba Moauj Darya shrine had been taken over, temporary arrangements for offering prayers made and reconstruction of the mosque would commence very soon, the meeting was told.

Mr Hassaan directed the contractors to follow Supreme Court’s directions in letter and spirit while executing work near the historical places.

He told them to ensure public facilitation at all costs during the execution of work on the project.

He said big billboards should be prominently placed for guidance of commuters about alternate routes during the closure of the GPO intersection for the project work.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2018