ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday directed the concerned officials to expedite the feasibility report for introducing a tram service on various routes in Islamabad.

The directives were issued by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa during a meeting where board members and officials from the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) discussed the proposal.

According to an official handout, the participants held a detailed discussion regarding introducing a state-of-the-art transport system for the citizens.

It was decided that electric tram buses would be introduced in Islamabad, ensuring citizens have access to advanced transport solutions.

The proposed trams would feature multiple compartments to accommodate more passengers and would be designed to be accessible for differently-abled individuals and women.

Digital screens to be installed at bus terminals displaying schedules, safety guidelines

During the briefing, the participants were informed that a feasibility report covering financial, operational and business models was being prepared. They were told that the electric bus project had already exceeded a daily ridership of 90,000 passengers as these buses were eco-friendly, cost-effective and punctual, attracting appreciation from the citizens.

Mr Randhawa said that provision of modern and efficient transport facilities to the residents of the capital was CDA’s top priority.

He instructed the concerned officers to finalise the feasibility report, particularly focusing on financial sustainability.

He emphasised developing a self-sustaining financial model and exploring public-private partnerships.

Clear timelines and operational goals for the tram project were also decided in the meeting.

Regarding the electric feeder buses, the CDA chairman ordered the installation of modern digital screens at terminals displaying advertisements, schedules and safety guidelines.

“To enhance revenue, smart ticketing systems and in-bus advertisements will be introduced. Additionally, electric buses will also be allocated for the CDA employees,” it said.

The participants of the meeting were informed that 140 bus stops were being upgraded with over 200 new stops to be constructed, featuring digital boards for non-fare revenue generation.

Meanwhile, sources in the CDA told Dawn that after completion of the feasibility study, the civic agency would explore options for procurement of trams - most likely from China.

According to them, the CDA wanted to start tram service initially on four routes, including Rawat to Faisal Mosque on the Expressway and Jinnah Square to the Islamabad International Airport on Srinagar Highway.

In the past too, the CDA had made such claims to start tram and light train services, but failed to translate the plans into reality.

The CDA through its contractor NRTC has already been running an electric bus service in Islamabad for the last over one year.

The bus service is providing transport facility to thousands of people. However, several steps are yet to be taken to facilitate passengers regarding information about the arrival and departure time of the buses.

Presently, there are no digital screens or any other source of information in Islamabad to guide the commuters about the timing of the buses at various stops like in other countries.

According to CDA officials, a mobile app has already been developed and available on Google Play Store for this purpose.

However, they admitted the fact that merely the app was not sufficient to provide such information many poor people who mostly use the public transport do not have smart phones or access to the internet.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2025