RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government plans to hire a foreign consultant for a feasibility study on a glass train from Rawalpindi to Murree.

A senior official of district administration told Dawn that an 18-member working group has been formed for the Murree rail link project, while it was decided in a recent meeting to engage an international consultant.

Additional Commissioner Coordination from Rawalpindi Nazarat Ali Shah and Secretary Regional Transport Rashid Ali participated via video link. The divisional administration officers reported a former feasibility study conducted for rail link from Rawalpindi to Muzaffarabad. The government would use the feasibility study from the Rawalpindi to Murree portion, provided that it is verified by an international consultant.

According to the official, it was apprised in the meeting that there is a feasibility report from 2015 of Rawalpindi to Bastal Mor Murree rail link in Rawalpindi, Murree Muzaffarabad rail link project. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif initiated the Murree rail line from Rawalpindi to Muzaffarabad in 2014-15. Initially, a station was proposed at Bastal Mor in Murree but was later relocated near Jhika Gali upon Sharif’s objection.

The Punjab Minister for Transport is the chair of the committee while secretaries of Transport and Masstransit Department, Tourism, Archaeology and Museums, Environment Protection & Climate Change, Planning & Development Board, Communication and Works serve as members. Deputy Commissioners Rawalpindi, Murree, RPO, CPO, Urban Unit and Nespak representatives are also part of the group.

The working group’s terms of reference include discussing project technology, design, alignment challenges and related matters with the stakeholders in order to develop better understanding about the project’s contours. This will guide the Transport and Masstransit Department in planning a detailed feasibility study for the project and addressing issues in this regard.

“Murree Rail Link is one of the dream projects of the PML-N as it will make the hill station pollution free and increase tourism in the area so people will come to Murree from twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” the senior official told Dawn.

“The project is feasible as Murree is situated at a height of over 2,200 metres and during the British Raj a rail link was laid at the same height in Shimla in 1906,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024