This Friday, the Punjab cabinet approved a Lahore underground mass transit system, as well as the inclusion of subterranean blue and purple line mass transit projects in the Annual Development Program.
The decision was made during the sixth cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.
On the occasion, the CM stated that he did not want to harm Lahore by introducing an underground railway system.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will contribute to the launch of the Blue Line, Purple Line, and other mass transportation projects.
He went on to say that the project will be built-operate-transfer, with no funding from the Punjab government.
The subway would connect Valencia Town to Karma Chowk, Liberty Chowk, and Data Darbar before terminating at the airport.
In addition, eight major Orange Line railway stations would be built. The cabinet also gave the Planning and Development Board and the Transport Department the authority to negotiate technical assistance and financing with the ADB.
During the meeting, it was also agreed to reduce the unit rates of ownership rights by 50% in order to provide land to landless farmers in Cholistan.
The Punjab government’s action will greatly benefit landless farmers in Cholistan and agriculture. The exemption of value-added tax for ambassadors and consulates was also approved.
CM Parvez Elahi stated that the underground train system, blue-line, purple-line, and mass transit project will be launched with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), adding that this project will be built on a BOT basis and will not cost the Punjab government a single penny.
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