LAHORE, MAR 08, (DNA) – Several delays have made it almost impossible for the Punjab government to stage inaugural ceremony for Lahore Orange Line Metro Project by April 2018.

According to details, Punjab government has re-tendered contract of 13.2 kilometer long Chauburji-Ali Town track titled as ‘Package-2’ to Zahir Khan & Brothers (ZKB) Reliable Group at 27pc higher rate.

Earlier, Punjab government has cancelled the contract of Package-II awarded to the Maqbool and Calson Joint Venture (MCJV) over emergence of fraud.

As per investigation carried by Dunya News and documents available, Punjab government had initially awarded contract of Package-II to MCJV at cost of Rs20.27 billion on rebate rate of 12.20pc. NESPAK unearthed fraud of MCJV via ‘sound integrated test’. NESPAK’s findings revealed company had committed fraud by reducing size of 22 branches of pillar number 258 and 259.

At time of cancellation of contract, MCJV had completed work on project worth Rs10 billion whereas only Rs8 billion work on Package-II was remaining.

ZKB had acquired contract of remaining work on Package-II at Rs12.59 billion which included provision of additional machinery by Punjab government worth Rs1.50 billion. Thus, cost of Package-II has swelled to Rs22.89 from an earlier estimate of Rs18.6 billion. Officials of Auditor General of Pakistan had declared it illegal to re-tender contract of same project at higher price and forecasted big audit objections would surface later in this regard.

Sources closely monitoring Orange Line Project narrated that Punjab government had set August-30, 2016 as 1st deadline for completion of project but an order issued by Lahore High Court (LHC) halted 24pc work around historical buildings. Startlingly, 22pc work on Package-I has not been finished yet and Habib Construction Company has requested to extend deadline by April-2018. This deadline too seems impossible as ZKB is importing new construction material from China which is expected to arrive in August-2017. Moreover, inner scuffles of contractors remain big hurdle in timely completion.

Similarly, decision to cancel hardware contract of Italian company and to get imported material tested from third party is also increasing difficulties. Source of Punjab chief minister’s secretariat told that Italian ambassador has expressed grave concerns in this regard in his letter to Shehbaz Sharif.

The company responsible for laying railway tracks, electricity wires and construction of 85MW grid station for Orange Line Project has requested an estimate time of nine months for accomplishment of said work. However, Punjab government is pondering to grant seven months in this regard.

Contractors of Civil Works have also expressed their inability to meet set deadline of April-2018 and have asked Punjab government to issue new timeframe for completion of work on Orange Line Project.

Punjab government’s deadline to finish work till April-2018 is tied with permission of Supreme Court (SC) toresume halted work.

“Cost of project would swell by Rs12billion-Rs13 billion and work would be finished by year 2021 if SC orders change of route”, narrated sources.

Officials of Punjab’s finance ministry told that Punjab CM has ordered uninterrupted issuance of funds for Orange Line Project. Officials also stated that Punjab CM would directly issue supplementary grants apart from amount allocated for project in regular budget to ensure its timely completion.