LAHORE – Lahore Metro Train project that was to begin public operations inMay of this year has faced further delays. Trial runs were then conductedin May. Now, officials in the know have said that while most of the work iscomplete, doors won’t be opened to public till next year.
The 27-kilometre metro line at a cost of $1.6 billion – and with amplehelp from a Chinese company – has hit several roadblocks in its journeyfrom being a dream to turning into a reality. The most significant hurdlewas when its close distance from historical monuments led to legal woeswith the Lahore High Court.
The Supreme Court of the country would eventually give the green signal butwith numerous conditions, including that the high-speed trains would slowdown when passing by historical structures. Then there were allegationsthat funds were not released on time by governments.
All of these have led to numerous delays for the country’s first metro linethat hopes to eventually transport 250,000 a day when it begins operationsand take that number to 500,000 by 2025.