NewsApril 05 , 2017
Orange Line Train must be like metros of foreign countries: SC
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, while hearing the Orange Line Train Project case, said that the structure of the project must be like the Metros being run in other countries as it reiterated that completion of the project was connected with adherence to rules and regulations.A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, resumed hearing in Nespak, Lahore Development Authority, Punjab Transit Authority and the Punjab government appeals against the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict.
Makhdoom Ali Khan, representing the Mass Transit Authority, submitted that the LHC had rejected reports of seven experts, while no one had objected to the reports.The learned counsel contended that Dr Abel and Pamela Roger reports were dismissed on the basis that in the past they had worked at the government institutions.
Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, a member of the bench, said if Pakistani experts’ report was not acceptable, Indian experts should be asked to file reports, adding that prima facie the reasons given in the LHC verdict seemed to be unacceptable, as there was contradiction in them.
Justice Azmat observed that the court had to examine whether the project would endanger the monuments or not. Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan said that there was already pressure of traffic on the routes where the metro train would be constructed.
To a court query regarding vibration level of the instant project, Makhdoom Ali Khan informed the court that vibration analysis was done after conducting underground soil test. He further submitted that the vibration level would be 3m per second, adding that 2.5 lakh people would travel in metro train and the commuters would be increased to 0.5 million, saying in the Indian city Jaipur, the metro passes near the historical buildings but none of them was damaged.
Meanwhile, Khawaja Haris, counsel for Lahore Development Authority (LDA), while commencing his arguments submitted that the No Objection Certificate (NOC) bound his client to monitor the project of the Mass Transit Orange Train.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed observed that it was a question of fact that there was much vibration at the Railway Station, Lahore, during train movement but buildings constructed in the 18th Century near the Railway Station were still intact.
Khawaja Haris, however, contended that if there is any damage to any building in future near the OLMT, then the project authority would repair it.Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing until today (Wednesday), asking Khawaja Haris to conclude his arguments by 11am.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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