LAHORE, Sept 9: The Asian Development Bank has reportedly agreed to also fund the estimated $2 billion second line of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System Network covering 26.6km from Thoker Niaz Beg to Mehmood Booti via Multan Road.

“The bank has conveyed to also fund the second line of the rail service which we are planning on the pattern of a similar facility in New Delhi. It (ADB) has already committed to fund the main line form Shahdara to Ferozepur Road’s Hamza Town costing an estimated $2.5 billion,” official sources informed Dawn here on Sunday.

They said the loan would be advanced on easy terms in view of the viability and importance of the project.

They also said spadework for the first main line was near completion and the process of acquisition of land for it would be started in a week or two. As a result, the work on the construction of the depot (main station) would be started by the end of this month or early next month, they added.

They said the geo-technical investigations had also been started on this main line and tests were being conducted at four places near Shahdara and other parts of the city to be covered by the route.

The first line will cover 27km area from Shahdara to Hamza Chowk via Ravi Road, Bhatti Chowk, Lower Mall, The Mall, Queen’s Road, Mozang Chungi and Ferozepur Road. It will have 15.4km elevated and 11.6km underground railway line. There will be 10 elevated and 12 underground stations.

The second line will cover 26.6km area from Thoker Niaz Beg to Mehmood Booti near Pakistan Mint via Multan Road, Chauburji, Lake Road, Lakshmi Chowk, Railway Station, GT Road and Shalamar Gardens. It will have 21.5km elevated and 5.1 underground railway line. There will be 20 elevated and six underground stations.