by Yasir Habib Khan

 

Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) is to resume the operation of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) within two or three days to ease the travelling hardships of daily commuters.  

 

OLMT operation was suspended in the wake of instructions issued by the Pakistani government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.   

 

PMTA GM Operations Muhammad Ozair Shah told Gwadar Pro that following the resumption of Metro Bus services on April 21 (today), Orange train services will be restored later.   

 

“After completing recommissioning and getting assured about active functionality of each station, OLMT operation is set to be restored accordingly,” he added. Services reinstatement, he said, is being done in line with the new instructions issued by the Punjab Transport Department.   

 

Hammad Ali, a daily passenger, welcomed the resumption of metro train in Lahore, saying that thousands of commuters will be relieved with the plying of the train services.  

 

Sarmad Jahania, another passenger said that passengers will follow all SOPs issued by the government to help keep OLMT service intact.   

 

PMTA GM Operations said that during the suspension, OLMT staff continued to perform their duties to keep the OLMT system active, he mentioned. These functionalities include train checking, technical & operational maintenance, security and other activities to ensure the perpetual functioning of metro train system.   

 

OLMT Lahore, constructed and operated with Chinese technology, was launched on October 25, 2020, as a project of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an iconic and mega-funded development venture of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Inaugural ceremonies took place simultaneously in Lahore and Beijing.