ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), under the chairmanship of Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, has recommended the Rs165.20 billion worth of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project for the final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
The project envisages construction of 27.1km long dedicated signal-free corridor for train mass transit system in Lahore. Ahsan Iqbal asked the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) which will execute the project to ensure completion of the mega project in 27 months.
The corridor will be capable of accommodating two trains running on both ways with design capacity of the system at 30,000 passengers per hour. The orange line metro train is being financed by the Punjab from its own resources with a concessional loan from the Chinese government.
Iqbal laid emphasis on transfer of technology for building the indigenous capacity to construct such mass transit system by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese company.
The proposed alignment of the project starts from Ali Town, passing through Niaz Baig, Bund Road, Chauburji, Anarkali, Lakshmi, Railway Station, University of Engineering and Technology, Shalamar Garden, Islam Park, and terminates at Dera Gujran.
In total, the CDWP cleared seven projects worth Rs180 billion, including the orange line metro project. Four projects worth Rs2.362 billion were approved; three projects worth Rs177.7 billion were recommended to Ecnec.
Another project recommended to Ecnec was the construction of a four-lane bridge across Indus River, linking Layyah with Taunsa worth Rs6.976 billion. However, it was cleared with the financing condition of two-third from Sindh government. The Larkana development package of infrastructure projects worth Rs8.113 billion was also approved subject to cost rationalisation.
