LRMT

As part of its nine month long survey to analyse soil quality for construction of tunnels for the proposed Lahore Rapid Mass Transit (LPMT), a French company SISTRA has completed a survey of 27 out of the 90 points, Daily Times was told on Wednesday.

Officials said the soil samples had been sent to France for analysis and the decision about the type of tunnels would be taken on the basis of the results.

Transport Secretary Agha Nadeem said the provincial government would start the construction of basic infrastructure for the LRMT by October 2007, adding that the commencement of work depended upon the findings of soil analysis tests.

French Company SISTRA had hired local geologists to carry out the survey and soil samples were being analysed at local and international geological laboratories, Nadeem said.

He said the survey would help in deciding as to what kind of foundations, underground stations, underground walls and pillars should be constructed.

The Punjab government was planning to construct Green Lane, Orange Lane, Purple Lane and Blue Lane for the LRMT. The contract for the design of Green Lane that will be constructed in the first phase was given to the SISTRA. The Green Lane will have 22 stations, including 12 underground stations and it will cost Rs 200 billion. A 27-killometres long railway track from Shahdara to Hamza Town will be constructed in the first phase of the project, including 12 kilometres of the elevated track from Hamza Town to Model Town, while the remaining track from Model Town to Data Darbar will be underground that will pass through Ferozepur Road, Fatima Jinnah Road and The Mall.

The Orange Lane will start from the Lahore Railways Station and end at Thokar Niaz Baig and it will pass through Mcleod Road, the GPO, Chauburji, Multan Road and GT Road. The system has the capacity to carry 30,000 commuters in an hour. The project will be completed by 2011.