ISLAMABAD – The government has decided to launch a modern high-speed train service between Islamabad and Rawalpindi to provide fast and comfortable travel for citizens.
According to private media reports, the decision was made during a joint meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
During the meeting, it was agreed to quickly complete the rail project from Margalla Station in Islamabad to Saddar Station in Rawalpindi. The framework agreement for the project will be finalized and signed next week.
The official statement said that the journey between Islamabad and Rawalpindi will take only 20 minutes, saving both time and fuel, while also reducing traffic congestion on major roads.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Railways will provide the railway track, while the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will manage the train service. It was also decided to import modern high-speed trains for the project.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said that this initiative will be a great public welfare project, allowing citizens to travel between the twin cities quickly and easily.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi added that the project reflects the Prime Minister’s vision to provide relief to the public, and once completed, it will offer modern and quality travel facilities to thousands of citizens.
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In another major development, the government has approved three new underpasses on Peshawar Road, worth Rs6 billion, with construction expected to begin next month.
A senior official of the Punjab Highway Department told Private media that the underpasses will be built near Race Course Park, Army Graveyard, and Chairing Cross to ease traffic congestion.
He said a utility services corridor will also be built to house all utility lines, including Sui Gas pipelines, electricity wires, and telephone cables, to prevent frequent road digging. This corridor will stretch from Saddar to Pirwadhai Mor, ensuring that utility companies and cantonment boards remain restricted to their designated lanes for services.
The provincial government has allocated Rs2.6 billion for the Race Course Park underpass, Rs1.9 billion for the Army Graveyard underpass, and Rs1.5 billion for the Chairing Cross underpass in the 2025-26 annual development budget.
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The PC-I of the projects has already been submitted, and construction will begin next month after the bidding process among government-run construction firms is completed.
Work will also start on three other projects — the Katcheri Chowk flyover and underpass, Jinnah Park underpass, and Ammar Chowk flyover — once land acquisition is completed.
Officials said that once these projects are finished, The Mall and Peshawar Road will become completely signal-free from Katcheri to Motorway Chowk, reducing travel time to around 20 minutes.
Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer of the Punjab Highway Department, confirmed that preparations have been completed and the initial phase, including shifting utility services, will begin before the main construction work starts.
He stressed that these underpasses are crucial for creating a signal-free corridor leading to the Motorway, providing smooth and uninterrupted travel for commuters in the garrison city.
