He directed the officials concerned to shut down electricity only under unavoidable circumstances for shifting utilities services in connection with the LOLMT project during Ramazan. He also said that priority should be attached to public facilitation.
The meeting was informed that the 13-km long new area drain from Haji Camp to River Ravi via Chauburji will be constructed underground and digging work for this purpose has been started at Punjab University ground at Lake Road.
Name of the underground station of metro train to be constructed at The Mall has been changed from Central Station to GPO Station besides correcting the name of Niaz Baig Station as Thokar Niaz Baig Station. The meeting was told that work on Package-II of the project has been geared up. All efforts were being made for completing construction work of six stations along this package during the current month and remaining stations next month.
For construction of elevated viaduct, all the piles, pile caps and piers have been constructed. Latest equipment to pre-cast 819 U-tub girders and 395 transoms has specially been imported and target has been set for finishing the pre-casting work by the end of July. Launching of pre-cast transoms has also been initiated and arrangements have been made for launching seven to eight transoms daily.
The meeting was also told that so far 68.25 per cent civil work on the project has been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujjaran, G T Road to Chouburji was 82.79 percent, on package-II from Choburji to Ali Town was 51 percent, on Depot near Dera Gujran was 73.68 percent while on Stabling Yard near Ali Town it was 68.01 per cent.
Khawaja underlined the need for adopting safety measures during execution of work on the project and said that areas where work was in progress should be barricaded to avoid collision of vehicles. Banks men should be deployed to facilitate the reversing of vehicles and reflecting signage should be pasted on the site.
He directed for sufficient lighting arrangements in place during night. Fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment should be in place. Staff must be trained to operate the fire-fighting equipment. Flammable material should be handled carefully and stored in designated places separately from ignition sources. Clear access and egress must be ensured to and from the site. Safe speed limits must be defined and implemented, he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017