ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has showed its reluctance to enter into an agreement with the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) to operate a bus service between Islamabad and Murree.

Despite lengthy discussions in the year 2014 when both the government departments had almost reached a working arrangement, the CDA recently expressed its reluctance to launch the service.

“Directly saying no to the Punjab government is not easy due to political reasons but the CDA has decided to delay the deal,” said an official of the civic body.

Punjab Tourism Development Corporation and CDA were to operate the service to ease traffic congestion in Murree

The main reason for the CDA to back off from the lucrative deal was a tip of information received from Lahore that the TDCP would sublet the contract to a transport company.

“The CDA will give land to the Punjab tourism department at subsidised rates for the public service but if they enters a commercial deal with some transport company, why should the CDA be part of it,” the official said.

The idea to launch the bus service to Murree from the federal capital was floated by the TDCP in April 2014 to reduce the traffic congestion in and around the hill station.

According to estimates of the Punjab government, there is a capacity to park around 3,000 vehicles in Murree but during the peak summer season 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles reach the hill station.

Murree has witnessed a surge in tourism during the last few years due to poor security situation in other tourist destinations.

The situation not only chokes the roads and streets in the hilly resort town but visitors also have to park their vehicles at adjoining roads and streets.

Besides, the high number of vehicular movement increases air pollution in the area.

The idea was to operate a bus service to Murree from the bus station of the diplomatic shuttle service at Bhara Kahu. There would be a heavy entry fee on private cars to discourage the movement of personal vehicles to Murree.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had also announced in April 2014 that the Tourism Development Corporation would launch a shuttle service from Bhara Kahu to Murree.

However, the TDCP asked the CDA to allocate up to eight acres of land near Adventure Inn where the provincial tourism department would establish an overnight stay facility. The CDA has not yet responded to the TDCP request.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2015

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