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ISLAMABAD: Although it is difficult for the cash-strapped Capital Development Authority (CDA) to execute multi-billion rupees projects, it has shown interest in launching a tram service in the capital.
An official of the CDA told Dawn that a Chinese company, which is working on the Orange Line Train Project in Lahore, gave a detailed presentation to CDA’s Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kayani and transport engineers on Friday, offering its services in the project.
“Our bosses have taken interest in this project, but honestly speaking we don’t have funds for it. An amount of Rs100 billion is required,” the official said.
When contacted, CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain said the civic body was planning to initiate welfare projects, “such as bus services on six routes of Islamabad. We are also interested in tram service, subject to availability of funds”.
Replying to a question, he said the meeting with the Chinese firm was for orientation.
“If we move ahead with the project, we can ask the government for funds,” he said.
Another official said this project could only be carried out if it was made part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as CDA has no funds for such a big project.
Besides, the National Highway Authority (NHA) is planning to expand Islamabad Metro Bus Project from Peshawar Mor to the new airport. Recentl,y the authority sought expression of interest from interested parties to start this project.
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2017
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Comments (25) Closed
Jan 14, 2017 01:06pm
"jis rastay pay jana nahi, us ka rastay kyun puchna"; ask your bosses to first arrange clean tap water for the citizens of Islamabad before embarking on such ambitious plans. They can live without trams and buses but not without water.
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Jan 14, 2017 01:38pm
@Khaled i agree with u.....what we need first is schools, better health planning , hygenic food, clean water, jobs,dams, stable law and order.....
we can not eat motor way , trains ,buses, lavish international trips by ministers, lobbying with trump and panama papers......
thanks
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Jan 14, 2017 01:48pm
Tram is useful only for small cities with less traffic and low population. They go slow and stop in signals and carry just 100 passengers. You need 1 hour to cover 20km
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Jan 14, 2017 01:56pm
why not talk about under ground railways.Many coutries are willing to do this job on build,operate and transfer baisis.look toward neighbouring countries they are working on the the same strategy.
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Jan 14, 2017 02:55pm
@MUJAHID HUSSAIN. Misplaced priorities.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:30pm
@AHA Modern Trams are like Subways. They go to speeds up to 80 km/h and its perfect for Islamaabd because its not a big city.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:47pm
Yes for our capital city, a modern tram system will be a good plan not only for logistics but to give aesthetic look to Islamabad
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Jan 14, 2017 04:50pm
First expensive metro bus. Then we realized it was not suitable for school children. So new buses were bought. Now we think it is still not enough, so we need tram. At this speed we'll end up with helicopter service between F11 and Serena, and ferries on Nala Lai. These transit services will curb the need for health, education and housing. Teachers, doctors and nurses will be available there, as they'll also enjoy the free rides, because no school or hospital will be available. We really have some genius at the top.
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Jan 14, 2017 05:01pm
@Ahsan what "aesthetic look" what about the basic necessities, like clean drinking water, well equipped basic health facilities and schooling for all in proper educational institutions .
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Jan 14, 2017 05:02pm
@AHA Ever been to Istanbul? One of the largest cities in Asia with narrow streets which are hundreds of years old and..... a successful tram service
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Jan 14, 2017 04:58pm
Why not underground rail? Why is our five inlyhellbound on going for bus and now trams? Trams will create congestions in the future when traffic and population increases
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Jan 14, 2017 05:11pm
@Muhammed Islamabad does not have a population like Karachi or Lahore to run an underground rail. It would be a waste of money and it would run on losses.
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Jan 14, 2017 05:21pm
@Khaled Its easy for people who own automobiles to say its not important but have you ever read the statistics ? I'll give you an example. I can't say about other cities, but for Lahore I can tell only 10% of population owns a vehicle and 90% are either on rickshaws, cycles, wagons, or on foot. If you go to the route where Metro Buses are plied, people will tell you how their lives have been changed. They saved money, time, and saw new economic activity.
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Jan 14, 2017 05:32pm
Capital was shifted from Karachi to Rawalpindi/Islamabad in 1959, when population had exceeded 1.2 million and it became difficult for the workers to reach office in time on Public Transport. They used to consume most of their energies before starting work, thus making the work efficiency very low. Today, Islamabad itself, a city planned for a maximum of 285,000 inhabitants is overstretched to house over 1.6 million people. That makes it necessary to find another serene and invigorating place for Pakistan's capital where the working minds could devote most of the time to work. Tramways would make the things more difficult because Metro has already taken half of the roads and there is no more space left for tramways.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:04pm
Cash strapped and CDA??? When a square yard of its Blue Area land fetches half a million of rupees and there are millions of square yards lying vacant, what fear is there if it can arrest its swelling sky-high corruption?
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Jan 14, 2017 06:10pm
@khaled
Exactly miplaced priorities.when people want to work,they find a way to get there.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:18pm
People of developed nations walk blocks and blocks to get to work and be productive elements of the economy. Where there's a will, there is always a way. Otherwise there are just excuses! Of all the things! Trams! there are lots of other ways to waste the time of a nation that needs to get moving!
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Jan 14, 2017 06:22pm
@pak47 you are right people are living in miserable conditions and most of them can hardly own a vehicle of their own, but that doesnt mean that we should go for such expensive ventures when there is lack of basic ammenties like clean drinking water .Why such misplaced priorities and insensitivity by the people at the helm of affairs
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Jan 14, 2017 08:43pm
What a shame, everything for Lahore and Islamabad, Jangla bus, orange train, bus for capitail city, this is all from the taxes of Karachi this city is orphan, no road, water, electricity. healthcare, education nothing, gutters boiling and now tram for CD. when E.Pak was with us their MAN when they visited they said "ISLAMABAD ROAD WE SMELL THE JUTE" similarly Karachi and Gawader are crying that there are no development every in Islamabad and Lahore not rest of Pakistan
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Jan 14, 2017 10:23pm
@Robina Raees . Absolutely correct.
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Jan 15, 2017 12:02am
A total waste of money that the government does not have, buying in from outside! It's better spent on education, technical learning centres who will be able to design, build and install homegrown trams/trains/busses, which will provide employment in the country, generate exports and save billions at the same time!
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Jan 15, 2017 12:11am
Tram service? how about first ensuring supply of clean water to the residents of Islamabad?
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Jan 15, 2017 12:16am
@Robina Raees
It is a big farce to claim all revenue from Karachi. All exports and customs on imports is the Federal subject and remain so constitutionally. Otherwise, the same golden fiber that truncated the country.
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Jan 15, 2017 08:23am
We all admit that we lack funds but the truth is some other way. We don't know what should be our priority. We dream very high but we forget ground realities. Some of the things can be done without funds but we don't want to do. Educate people about traffic rules. Check irregularities and fine them whosoever they are. Stop increasing vehicles. Control traffic on busy roads .
Apart from these pay some attention to the development of the nearby areas so that everyone may not rush to big cities.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:48pm
The whole 'system' of government in Pakistan has evolved around such that funds usually generated by international loans or by meagre agri exports change hand a couple of times and they disappear in thin air without trace but end up in the pockets of rulers. Hence, investment in education, healthcare or utilities or real sold infrastructure of the country is never allowed happen other than for 'show' it's just 'tinkered' with ie, metro bus service or road building here and there. The sums raised in loans are huge compared to the reminisce spent on projects ! To fool the public further our leaders launch some health project by way of dishing out some health cards scheme for show in some back water village!
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