Islamabad: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has been directed by the Supreme Court (SC) to release funds worth PKR 1 billion for the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project, according to a news report.
A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed the relevant construction companies to complete the project on time, or face penalties. Nisar also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to not get involved in the case until specifically requested to do so.
Recently, the contract for the project’s maintenance & operations was prepared, and is to be awarded to the private sector. The Punjab Mass Transit Authority has created a strategy for this purpose, and made the decision to have the contract signed on a fixed-cost-basis. The estimated annual cost of OLMT is expected to go up to PKR 6 billion – of which the government will bear PKR 1 billion through electricity bills.
