Orange Line Train: SC seeks written reply of Punjab govt over reservations
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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday soughta written reply from litigants on the reservations raised during hearing of an appeal in connection with the Orange Line Train project.
Shahid Hamid, counsel for the Punjab government, apprised the the five-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan that Rs 100 million had been reserved for the protection of heritage sites in the surroundings of Orange Line Train project.
Work on Chauburji Chowk in that regard had already started, he added.
Asma Jahangir, counsel for a litigant, expressed her reservations that the raised track would impair the visibility of heritage sites and there was also possibility that vibration caused by the running train might damage them.
She said Lahore had hardly been included in international list of the cities having heritage sites and the train project might put that status at risk.
Justice Ejaz remarked that there might be another aspect that people could see heritage sites while traveling in the train like 'Aawa', the historical place of Buddhism, was hidden from common eye, which would be easily seen after the construction of the project.
Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that if the court deemed it fit then experts might be summoned for their opinion.
Subsequently the court adjourned the hearing till Thirsday.
It may be added that the Lahore High Court on August 19, 2016 had barred provincial authorities from carrying out construction work within 200 feet radius of around 11 heritage sites, including Shalimar Gardens, Gulabi Bagh Gateway, Chauburji, Buddhu ka Awa, Zebunnisa's Tomb, Lakshmi Building, General Post Office, Aiwan-e Auqaf, SC Lahore registry building, St Andrews Presbyterian Church on Nabha Road and Baba Mauj Darya Bukhari's Shrine.
Under the Orange Line Metro Train project, the Punjab government is laying a 27.1 kilometre rapid transit line which is expected to benefit 250,000 people every day. (APP)