LAHORE: The Punjab government says that the Lahore Orange Line, which is set to chug for the public from Oct 25, will save public money of Rs60.4 billion per annum, as over 88 million people (245,000 daily) are expected to use the facility.

“We think that the project will help over 88 million people, in general, to save their personal transport cost of over Rs60 billion per annum that we have estimated. Besides this, the orange line will also be helpful in reducing travel time, pollution and traffic congestion if the aforementioned people’ numbers we estimate use the train,” an official source told Dawn on Thursday.

According to a document available with Dawn, 27 sets of trains, each of five train cars/coaches are ready to run between Dera Gujran (Near Quaid-i-Azam Interchange, GT Road) to Ali Town (Raiwind Road) from Oct 25.

Running at a 34.8km per hours speed, the trains, which have maximum speed of 80km per hour, will complete the end to end travel within 45 minutes. All trains will stop at all 26 stations at the 27.12km long route.

These stations include Ali Town, Thokar, Canal View, Hanjarwal, Wahdat Road, Awan Town, Sabzazar, Shahnoor, Salauddin Road, Bund Road, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, Chauburji, Anarkali, GPO, Lakshmi, Railway Station, Sultanpura, UET, Baghbanpura, Shalamar Gardens, Pakistan Mint, Mahmood Booti, Slamatpura, Islam Park and Dera Gujran.

On the other hand, the Punjab transport department organised a media briefing at Anarkali station, stating that Orange Line Metro Train was the first transport project under CPEC which was also a symbol of Pakistan-China friendship and a gift for the people of Lahore.

“Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will inaugurate this project on Oct 25,” said Transport Minister Jehanzeb Khan Khichi.

He said the project would provide employment to more than 4,000 people and state-of-the-art travel facility to around 250,000 commuters daily.

“A Rs5.62 billion subsidy will be given to this project. The one-side fare will be Rs40.”

He said the project would lessen transport load on GT Road, Station Road, Multan Road and other thoroughfares.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020