Wikipedia

Orange Line (Lahore Metro)

Orange Line is an automated rapid transit line in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan and the first driverless metro in Pakistan. It is operated by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority and forms part of the Lahore Metro system.[1][2] The line is Pakistan's first metro train.[3][4][5] The line spans 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground.[6] The line is served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passengers daily.

Orange Line
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleLahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Termini
  • Ali Town Terminal
  • Dera Gujran Terminal
Stations26 (24 elevated, 2 underground)
Websitehttps://pma.punjab.gov.pk/orange-line-metro-train-system
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemLahore Metro
Operator(s)Punjab Mass Transit Authority
Rolling stock27 5-cars trains
History
Opened25 October 2020; 4 years ago (2020-10-25)
Technical
Line length27.1 km (16.8 mi)
CharacterElevated & underground
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail 750 V DC
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

Legend
 Ali Town
Thokar Niaz Baig
Canal View
Hanjarwal
Wahdat Road
Awan Town
Sabzazar
Khatam-e-Nabuwat
Salahudin Road
Bund Road
Samanabad
Gulshan-e-Ravi
Chaburji
Anarkali Lahore Metrobus
GPO
Lakshmi
Railway Station Railway
Sultanpura
UET
Baghbanpura
Shalamar Garden
Pakistan Mint
Mahmood Booti
Salamatpura
Islam Park
Dera Gujran
This diagram:
Route map

History

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The project was initiated with a signed memorandum of understanding between the governments of Pakistan and China in May 2014.[7] Financing for the project was secured in December 2015 when China's Exim Bank agreed to provide a soft loan of $1.55 billion for the project.[8] Construction works on the project began in October 2015.[9] Habib Construction Services was awarded the first phase in October 2015 for Rs. 21.49 billion (US$74 million). In October 2016, Phase 2 of the project was awarded to ZKB Engineers and Constructors for civil works between Chauburji and Ali Town at a cost of 2000.39 billion rupees.[10] On 12 January 2017, 7 labourers perished at a makeshift residence for Orange Line construction workers.[11] CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive rolled out the first of 27 trains for the metro on 16 May 2017.[12]

Testing and trial runs began in March 2018.[13] In May 2018, Punjab Chief Minister of the time Shahbaz Sharif was present at the first test run of Lahore's Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT).[14]

On 25 October 2020, Orange Line Train was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar.[15]

Design

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Stations

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Anarkali is one of the 2 underground stations
 
Wahdat Road Station
 
Certain Orange Line station from the inside

The line has 26 stations. Anarkali and GPO stations are underground, while the remaining 24 are elevated.[1] The rail line runs through the centre of each station, with platforms flanking the track.[6] Elevated stations have a width of 22.5 metres, while Anarkali Station is 16 metres wide, and GPO Station is 49.5 metres wide.[16] Elevated stations are all 102 metres long, while Anarkali and GPO Stations are 121.5 and 161.6 metres long, respectively.[16]

Anarkali and GPO Stations were initially planned to have two underground levels,[17] Anarkali Station now both feature a ground-level concourse with one underground level, while GPO Station has a single underground level, in order reduce the maximum gradient for trains from 3.5% to 3.0%.[18] Rail tracks are 9.7m below street level at GPO Station, and 8.7m below street level at Anarkali Station.[19]

Underground stations feature automated doors between platforms and trains. Public areas of the station are air conditioned during warm months.[20] Elevated stations feature natural ventilation throughout the platforms, with localised air conditioning in public areas of the ticket-hall level.[20]

Rolling stock

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The locomotive
 
Train at a station

Orange Line trains are each composed of five wagons manufactured by China's CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive,[21] and automated and driverless.[4] A standard Chinese "Type B" train-set consisting of 5 cars with 4 doors each used,[16] that has a stainless steel body and illuminated by LED lighting.[22] Each car has a nominal capacity of 200 seated and standing passengers at an average density of 5 persons per square metre with 20% of passengers seated and 80% standing.[23] A total of 27 trains with 135 cars have been ordered for the system,[24] at a cost of $1 billion.[25] A total of 54 trains are expected to be in service by 2025.[25] The trains powered by a 750-volt third rail.[26][25]

Track

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Locomotive on elevated tracks

The Orange Line's tracks meet China's national standards,[16] and employing jointless track circuits.[27] Mainline track is capable of supporting 60 kg/m, while track in the depot and storage yards is capable of supporting 50 kg/m.[16] Track was laid upon a monolithic concrete track bed, with crossovers located between every 2 to 3 stations.[28] Double turnover tracks are used at each terminus for turnaround.[29] Track is standard gauge at 1435mm.[30] Fasteners between tracks are elastic.[16]

Depot

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A depot was constructed at the northeast portion of the line, directly east of the Lahore Ring Road,[31] while a stabling yard was constructed at the line's southern terminus at Ali Town.[31] The depot is also the site of the Orange Line's central control centre.[31] The depot and stabling yard respectively required 0.56 and 0.49 kilometres of track.[32]

Alignment

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The line spans 27.1 km (16.8 mi). 1.72 km (1.1 mi) of the line is underground, while transition zones between underground and elevated portions covers 0.7 km (0.4 mi).[31] The remaining track is elevated.[31] The maximum gradient for the track's main-line is 3.0%,[17] while the minimum turning radius on the mainline is 250 metres.[33]

The alignment roughly parallels several of Lahore's major thoroughfares, including the Grand Trunk Road, McLeod Road, Lake Road, Multan Road and Raiwind Road. The Orange Line connects several important nodes in Lahore, including the Shalamar Gardens, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore's main train station, Chauburji Square, and Ali Town.

Route

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Lakshmi Station is named after the historic Lakshmi Building, which in turn was named in honour of the Hindu goddess of fortune and prosperity, Lakshmi.

From Orange Line's northeastern terminus at Dera Gujran, the track is elevated and runs in the median of the GT Road until Shalamar Station. From Dera Gujran Station in northeast Lahore, the route travels 5.5 kilometres westward with stations at Islam Park, Salamatpura, Mahmood Booti, Pakistan Mint, and Shalamar Gardens. The track does not run in the GT Road's median near Shalamar Station - it instead turns and travels along the southern edge of the GT Road in order to bypass the garden in order to prevent damage to mature trees there.[34] Traveling west from Shalamar Station, the track returns to the median of GT Road, with stops at Baghbanpura, University of Engineering and Technology, and Sultanpura. From Sultanpura, the line then travel towards Lahore's central Junction Railway Station. From there, it travels southwest along McLeod road towards Lakshmi Chowk Station. The total distance from Sultanpura to Lakshmi Chowk is 2.5 km.[35]

 
Passengers from the Orange Line will be able to use Anarkali Station to transfer to the Lahore Metrobus stop at MAO College.

Leaving Lakshmi Chowk, the line travels southwest along McLeod Road, and descends into the 1.15 km underground portion that leads to the first underground station in the system, the GPO Station. GPO Station is located at the intersection of The Mall and McLeod Road, in front of Lahore's General Post Office (GPO) and the Lahore High Court. From GPO Station, the line continues from McLeod Road and travels under Allah Baksh Road before turning south where the second underground station, Anarkali, is located. Connections from the Orange Line to the Lahore Metrobus will be available via an underground walkway in future. From Anarkali Station, the route continues under Jain Mandir and Lytton Road.

 
Chauburji perpendicular to Orange line tracks.

It then emerges along Lake Road and again travels above ground towards Chauburji Station.

 
The Orange Line will include connections to the historic Lahore Railway Station.

From Chauburji the line continues 4.5 km towards the southwest, along the median of Multan Road. Elevated stations are located at Gulshan-e-Ravi, Samanabad, Bund Road, Salahudin Road, and Khatam-e-Nabuwat. From Khatam-e-Nabuwat, the line shifts from Multan Road's median and travels along the road's southern/eastern side with a stop at Sabzazar Station. The line continues along Multan Road's edge until Awan Road Station, after which it reverts to Multan Road's median. Leaving Awan Road Station, the line continues to travel southwest along Multan Road until it reaches Wahdat Road Station, which lies 2.85 km to the southwest of Sabzazar Station. The line 5.2 kilometres along Multan and Raiwind Roads, with stops at Hanjarwal Station, Canal View, Thokar Niaz Baig, before terminating at Ali Town.[36]

Connections

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The Orange line connects to the Lahore Metrobus from Anarkali Station of the Orange Line, to MAO College Station of the Metrobus. The line connects to the Lahore Railway Station via a moving walkway to the Orange Line's Railway Station.

Operations

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The Orange Line is operated by a joint venture of Guangzhou Metro Group, Norinco International and Daewoo Express for the first 8 years after the project's completion.[25] Infrastructure for the line has an expected life span of approximately 100 years with routine maintenance.[37] The official in charge is Sibtain Halim.[38]

Projected ridership

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The system is designed to handle 30,000 passengers per hour.[8] The Orange Line initially carried 5,000 passengers per day, with ridership of 5000 passengers per day three years after commencement of service.[24] The system is designed to operate with a minimum headway of two minutes.[37] It is expected that the station will serve 520 passengers per hour in the Orange Line's first year of operations - a figure which is expected to rise to 550 by 2025.[16]

The system's busiest station is projected to Anarkali Station with an estimated 450 daily trips in the first year of operations, rising to 110,000 trips in 2025.[39] Lakshmi Chowk is expected to be the second busiest station in the first year of operations with 23,200 trips, and 41,500 in 2025. Lahore Junction Railway Station is expected to be the third busiest station within the line's first year of operation with 17,500 trips, rising to 4400 in 2025.[39]

Speed

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The maximum speed of the trains is 80 km/h (50 mph).[40] Riders will be served by 26 stations, two of which will be underground stations.[41] The total ride time from one end of the system to the other is estimated to be 45 minutes,[24] compared to the current commute time of more than 1 hour.[21]

Hours of operation

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The Orange Line is operational for 15 hours 45 minutes per day, between 06:15 and 22:00.

Electric supply

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The system required approximately 20 MWs of electricity to power the trains, as well as the system's stations.[25] 80 MWs of electricity have been secured for the project's operations from the Lahore Electric Supply Company.[20] The system has a back-up unit in case of power failure, while a third emergency system also available to if both power sources fail.[25]

Two high-voltage electrical substations built for the line - one near UET Station, and the other at Khatam-e-Nabuwat Station.[16] The project also included 16 traction substations.[16]

Operation entities

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On 25 February 2020, the contract of operation and maintenance of Lahore Metro Orange Line was signed between the Punjab provincial transport authority and a set of firms including Guangzhou Metro, NORINCO International and Daewoo Express.[42]

Finance

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A Short Clip of Lahore Metro from Chinese Media

The 27-kilometre metro train is expected to cost 22.51 billion Rupees ($1.65 Bn),[8] out of which 48% of funds 14.47 billion Rupees($800 million) coming from the Federal Government of Pakistan, the rest 52% is financed through soft loans by the Government of China.[43] Though the project is frequently mentioned as a part of the wider China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the project is financed separately from CPEC, and is being undertaken by the Government of Punjab.[44] These loans will be paid back by Punjab Government in installments over a 20-year period.[45]

In November 2016, the Punjab Provincial Development Working Party approved an additional 391 million rupees towards construction of the Orange Line.[46] In January 2017, the Government of Punjab was awarded 20 billion rupees' worth of tax exemptions to help control costs for the project.[47] Also in January 2017, the Lahore Development Authority noted that it would require an additional 2 billion rupees in order to better integrate the Orange Line with the Lahore Metrobus where they interchange.[48]

The cost of land acquisition for the Orange line is Rs. 13.80 billion and is additional to the above cost and is being borne by the Government of Punjab.[49]

Fare of Orange Line is Rs. 25-45 per trip per person depending on travel distance, while Rs.25 for travel up to 4km, Rs.30 for travel up to 8 km, Rs. 35 for travel up to 12 km, Rs.40 for travel up to 16 km and Rs.45 for travel up to the terminus station.

Criticism

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Advocates charge that construction works threaten numerous heritage sites in Lahore, such as the 17th century Chauburji.

The project has been subject to criticism regarding transparency,[50] while environmental groups have been critical of the environmental sustainability of the project.[51][52][53] The Asian Development Bank was reported to have offered to finance a comparable underground transit system at a lower cost of borrowing, but with longer construction times and higher overall cost.[21]

Various people and organizations have raised concerns that the Lahore Metro Orange Line might be a possible threat to heritage sites in this historic city.[54] On 19 August 2016, the Lahore High Court ordered the cessation of construction works located within 200 feet of 11 historical sites.[55]

After 22 months, construction work resumed following a judgment from the Supreme Court of Pakistan in favour of the metro. After the election, work on the metro slowed down because a minister of the Government of Punjab termed it a White elephant and showed reluctance to complete it. The 2019-2020 budget of Punjab has allocated a low amount of funds for the project which will slow the pace of development of the metro.

As per a report, over 100 on-site deaths and injuries were reported during the construction of the Orange Line due to lack of occupational health and safety standards. [56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Good news on track: Lahore to get Pakistan’s first metro train", Express Tribune, Lahore, 23 Mar 2014. Retrieved on 20 October 2014.
  2. ^ Development agenda: Lahore metro train gets green signal
  3. ^ Adnan, Imran (April 1, 2019). "OLMT project to face further delay". The Express Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2019. As per the direction of the apex court, he said, the civil works of the project will be completed by end of July 2019. But the project will not enter into commercial operations by August or November 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Manufacturing of orange trains starts, says Kh Hassan". The News. May 26, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017. Latest technology will be employed for fabricating these trains and the rolling-stock will be fully computerised, automatic and driverless.
  5. ^ "Railways secretary reviews operation for Karachi Circular Railway revival". Tribune.com.pk. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Pakistan, China sign pact on Lahore Orange Line metro project", Dawn, Lahore, 22 Mar 2014. Retrieved on 20 October 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "China signs funding agreement for Lahore metro". International Railway Journal. December 23, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. ^ Randhawa, Samiullah. "Court orders violated in Orange Line Metro Train project". Pakistan Today. Retrieved January 24, 2017. The court in its verdict on August 19 ordered the government to stop all construction work of the project within 200 feet of eleven historical buildings and ordered the formation of a review committee to assess the effects of the construction at these historical sites. The eleven sites are Chauburji, Saint Andrew Church, GPO building, the tomb of Zeb-un-Nisa, Supreme Court Registry Branch, Aiwan-e-Auqaf, Shalimar Gardens, Budhu ka Awa, the tomb of Baba Mauj Daria, Lakshmi Building, and Shah Chiragh Building.
  10. ^ "Contract for Orange Line Package-2 re-awarded". Tribune. October 31, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  11. ^ "Seven workers hired for Orange Line Train project perish in fire". Dawn. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  12. ^ "First Orange Line Metro train rolls out - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  13. ^ "Orange Line Metro train runs on trial basis in Lahore". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  14. ^ "Lahore's Orange Line Metro Train conducts trial run". Dawn. May 18, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  15. ^ CM Buzdar inaugurates Lahore Orange Line Train project The News International. Retrieved 2022-08-03
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "SECTION - 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT" (PDF). EIA of Construction of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (Ali Town –Dera Gujran). Environmental Protection Department. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  18. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 69. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  20. ^ a b c "SECTION - 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT" (PDF). EIA of Construction of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (Ali Town –Dera Gujran). Environmental Protection Department. pp. 3–10. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  21. ^ a b c "Short Cuts". The Economist. March 17, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  22. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  24. ^ a b c "Manufacturing of orange trains starts, says Kh Hassan". The News. May 26, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "27 trains to be acquired for Metro project". Pakistan Today. February 5, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Orange train to run on 750 volts". Dawn. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  27. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 143. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  28. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  29. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  30. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  31. ^ a b c d e "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  32. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  33. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  34. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 62. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  35. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 64. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  36. ^ "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 67. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  37. ^ a b "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  38. ^ Page, Jeremy; Shah, Saeed (July 22, 2018). "China's Global Building Spree Runs Into Trouble in Pakistan". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Sibtain Halim, Pakistan's official in charge of the Orange Line, says no other countries expressed interest in bidding.
  39. ^ a b "Norinco Technical Proposal" (PDF). January 2016. p. 75. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  40. ^ FINANCING PLUS ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF METRO RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM ON OF THE ORANGE LINE IN LAHORE (PHASE-I FROM ALI TOWN TO LAHORE RAILWAY STATION)
  41. ^ Hasnain, Khalid (June 26, 2015). "City to lose 66620 trees for Orange Line train". www.dawn.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  42. ^ "巴基斯坦首条地铁将由广州地铁运营". www.guancha.cn. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  43. ^ "Infrastructure project: First tranche of OLMT loan released - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  44. ^ "Orange Line not part of CPEC: NA body". The Nation. January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  45. ^ "China financing Orange Line Metro Train: Shahbaz Sharif - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. April 9, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  46. ^ "Another Rs391m okayed for Orange Line". Express Tribune. November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  47. ^ "Govt approves Rs20 billion tax exemptions for Orange Line Metro project in Lahore". Dawn. January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  48. ^ "If well-connected, Orange Line will cost Rs200b more". Express Tribune. June 22, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  49. ^ "Land Acquisition for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project". nation.com.pk. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017.
  50. ^ "Orange Line hearing: Govt told to present metro train agreement - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. May 3, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  51. ^ Shahid, Jamal (June 8, 2015). "'Environmental and economic sustainability' of CPEC assured". www.dawn.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  52. ^ Hasnain, Khalid (July 27, 2015). "'Conditional' approval of Orange Line project EIA". www.dawn.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  53. ^ "'Metro train will change country's transport culture' - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. April 25, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  54. ^ News Report about Heritage Concerns
  55. ^ Randhawa, Samiullah. "Court orders violated in Orange Line Metro Train project". Pakistan Today. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  56. ^ Hisam, Zeenat (January 24, 2019). "Dock workers' rights". DAWN.COM. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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