Alarming increase in expenses of Orange Line project revealed
Document obtained by Dunya News reveals funding of Metro train project by various ministries
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Dunya News has gotten hold of the document containing the statistics related to amount being spent over the construction of the country’s first light rail project, the Orange Line train.
The document shows a sharp contrast in the expenses presented by the Punjab government to the public as compared to the original stats. The provincial government claims that the project will be completed using the amount (Rs 165 billion) given by China whereas according to the information obtained by Dunya News through various governmental sources, the cost of the project has risen to Rs 271.61 billion.
Apart from the Rs 165 billion being provided by China, the extra Rs 92 billion shall be spent from the funds of various other developmental projects of the province. During the previous fiscal year, a deduction of 23% was made in the funds of the agricultural sector as the funds obtained from this end were utilised in the Metro bus project.
According to the investigation carried out by Dunya News, instead of the one-line budget of the Metro train, the project was being funded through various ministries including that of finance, transportation, Information Technology (IT), environment, planning and development, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and the Orange Line authority.
The document revealed that Rs 19.80 billion were spent on the procurement of land and for compensating those affected by the project. Rs 10 billion were spent on the removal of electricity poles and the breaking of roads along with serving as compensation for damage caused to infrastructure.
Rs 20 billion were spent as taxes over the usage of the machinery being utilised in the project and for the training of the labourers along with serving as social security and plantation of trees along the track of the train and various other expenses, according to the document.
It has been mentioned in the document that Rs 9.84 billion would be spent as compensation to the damage caused to historical sites, including Shalamar Gardens, Chauburji and 12 other structures, during the construction of the project.
