Alarming situation as Orange Line train structure starts vibrating

The Lahore Orange Project Package Two has sounded danger alarms as its structure started severely vibrating due to train operations, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Saturday.

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and National Engineering Services Pakistan (Private) Limited (NESPAK) sought for an explanation about the structural safety of Package Two which runs from Chauburji to Ali Town, as its structure began to tremble.

In response to that, the package two contractor has alerted about potential risks and mentioned that the structure, despite using diesel locomotives, was working finely since 2018. However, since 2020, the vibration is getting worse with each passing day.

Another explanation implying that vibration got bad to worse due to the lack of monitoring the magnesium by the authorities. Moreover, the structure is further deteriorating because of the absence of train wheel inspections and non-installation of seismic isolators.

The letter then warned that strength period of the civil structure will be halved if the vibration was not controlled timely.

On the other hand, some sources claimed that a number of problems have arisen after the vibration caused damage to the project's civil structure.

Although the contractor of the project started writing letters from 15th August of this year but authority, instead of taking responsibility, turned deaf ears and started putting the responsibility on each other, as per sources.

In the meantime, LDA authorities said that the structure of package two had certain structural anomalies that were being investigated, however, the Mass Transit Authority is the ultimately in charge of the Orange Line project.

Reporter: Durr-e-Nayab