OLMT project case: SC directs construction companies to submit guarantee money

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed three construction companies to submit Rs0.1 million each as guarantee money in Orange Line Metro Train project case, ARY News reported on Friday.

A bench of the apex court heard the case relating to delay in completion of the multi-million Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project.

Justice Ahmed expressed severe outrage over OLMT’s Project Director Fazal Haleem. He observed that the development work was pushed into a delay due to Haleem’s negligence who is being blackmailed by construction companies.

“If contractors are not working on the project, just throw them into jail,” directed the court.

Justice Ahmed asked the construction companies to submit Rs1 billion guarantee money. “The guarantee will be seized if development work will not be completed till May 20,” he remarked.

Lawyer of the construction company argued that his client could not give a guarantee of Rs1 billion.

“You can send my client behind the bars as we have already submitted Rs2 billion as guarantee amount,” he said. “Rs1.5 billion are already due to be paid,” added the lawyer.

Justice Ijazul Hassan also remarked that a huge amount was spent on the train project.

Justice Ahmed questioned OLMT project director, “Is there any procedure exists for checking the quality of construction?”

To this, Haleem replied that the advisor was monitoring overall construction work on the project.

Later, the apex court adjourned the hearing for two week and directed construction companies to submit 0.1 million as guarantee money.

The Orange Line project

The Orange Line project, is a rapid transit system under construction in Punjab’s capital Lahore. The line will span 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground.

The line will be served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passengers daily.

Though it is frequently mentioned as a part of the wider China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Orange line is being financed by the Government of Punjab.