LAHORE: Lahore Orange Line Metro Train will be fully automatic and will chug without a driver at a commercial speed of 35 kilometers per hour, covering end-to-end journey in only 45 minutes.

LOMTP steering committee chairman Khwaja Ahmad Haassan said this during the weekly review meeting held here on Wednesday.

He said that one set of train has been loaded onto the ship at Shanghai Port of China and was scheduled to reach Karachi by Sept 15 and Lahore by the end of next month.

Civil works of the two high-voltage sub-stations -- one on the Multan Road near Shahnoor Studios and the other on the GT Road near University of Engineering and Technology -- was now in its final stages. Both the stations will be made operational by the middle of next month for providing electricity for the train operation.

The meeting was informed that 73 per cent of the civil work on the project has so far been completed. Progress on Package-I (from Dera Gujjaran, GT Road to Chauburji ) was 85.6pc, on Package-II (from Chauburji to Ali Town) was 53pc, on depot near Dera Gujran was 78.4pc, while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 74.3pc.

An overall 15pc electrical and mechanical work of the project has also been completed. Civil work on available area along Package-I had almost been completed, the meeting was told.

The meeting was informed that work for construction of a storm water drain on Mecload Road was being executed at five points and it was expected to be completed within a month.

As many as 191 traffic wardens have been deployed for working in three shifts along Package-II of the project for ensuring smooth flow of traffic in these areas.

Nespak had finalised the design for construction of special enclaves on footpaths along the Metro Train for placing skips for collecting solid waste, the meeting was told.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2017