ISLAMABAD: City officials plan to introduce an electric tram service in Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will conduct a feasibility study for the project.
As per the details, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa told private newspaper, “We decided to study the feasibility of a tram service. Following the prime minister and interior minister’s guidance, we are focusing on eco-friendly public transport. The electric bus service is already running, and now we are exploring a tram service.”
A CDA team, led by the chairman, met with National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) officials to discuss the tram project. A CDA press release stated that the meeting covered the Soft Wheel Electric Tram and improvements to Electric Feeder Buses. The chairman instructed officials to complete the feasibility study for the tram on the city’s busiest routes.
The chairman said providing modern transport is a priority for the CDA. He noted that electric trams and feeder buses will offer better commuting options and help reduce air pollution and fuel use. He also stressed that tram designs should include multiple sections for more passengers, with accessibility for people with disabilities and women.
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Sources said the CDA may hire a Chinese consulting firm for the feasibility study. The tram service could initially operate on four routes, including Rawat to Faisal Mosque on the Expressway and Jinnah Square to the airport on Srinagar Highway.
In the past, the CDA proposed tram and light train services but did not implement them. A few years ago, the CDA discussed a light rail transit system with China Railway but later dropped the plan. The CDA also sought funding from international donors like the Asian Development Bank or Japan International Cooperation Agency for a light train project.
The CDA, through NRTC, has operated an electric bus service in Islamabad for about a year, serving many passengers.
However, information about bus schedules is limited, with no digital screens or apps available for commuters. The CDA press release said the chairman directed that bus terminals should have digital screens for real-time schedules, safety alerts, and advertisements.
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An official said the CDA is addressing these issues and plans to launch an app and install digital screens at bus stations soon. On the tram service, he added, “People doubted the electric bus service too, but we started it with 160 buses, and now they run on most main roads.”
In another developmen, CDA has vowed to make Islamabad Pakistan’s first fully digital city, with plans to introduce advanced traffic management, cashless transactions, and city-wide high-speed internet.Pakistani travel guides
The decisions were made during a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa at the CDA Headquarters on Tuesday. Senior officials and board members attended the session, where progress on Islamabad’s digital transformation was reviewed.
The meeting discussed the implementation of a tech-driven traffic management system, including Drone surveillance for real-time monitoring, AI-based congestion analysis using Google data, Automated speed tracking to regulate traffic flow.
Immediate measures will be taken to ease congestion at 11 major points, while long-term solutions for other areas are under study.
Most of these decisions will die in the files. Before doing anything else, please supply clean drinking water to the citizens of Islamabad. Also remove encroachments created by second-hand car dealers who are occupying public parking spaces in almost all prime locations of the capital. Establish full-fledged health units in all CDA sectors run by the government. The same holds true for education institutions. Efficient public transport is also very important which should cover all areas of the city, not just some places