Islamabad - Rawalpindi Mass Transit System to Tide Over Gridlock Urged

ISLAMABAD (April 03 2008): One hopes that new democratic government having a better understanding of grassroots level problems will give practical shape by introducing mass transit system in Islamabad-Rawalpindi to overcome all traffic problems once for all.

The government should give high priority to developing mass transit transport system as continuous increase in urbanisation and vehicular traffic are resulting in serious traffic congestion in the twin cities. Although, one appreciates efforts by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to improve the existing infrastructure by expanding roads, building underpasses, overhead bridges, service lanes, cross junctions to streamline and overcome traffic congestion yet it is not a permanent solution to the problem keeping in view the growing population and fast registration of vehicles due to leasing policy of banks.

Islamabad with a population of about one million is growing at an average of about six percent per annum, while Rawalpindi with a population of about 2.5 million has a growth rate of about 3.4 percent per year.An estimated 200 vehicles are being registered daily with the Islamabad Excise and Taxation Office and more than 150,000 vehicles plying on the city roads.

It may be recalled that previous government approved the revival of National Mass Transit Authority under the Ministry of Railways to promote, plan, develop and regulate Urban Mass Transit System for development of mass transit systems for eight cities.Objective of Islamabad-Rawalpindi Mass Transit system is to provide safe, secure, comfortable, reliable, affordable and environmentally acceptable mode of transportation to the people of the twin cities. Besides the CDA and the Rawalpindi district government has yet to materialise its promise of introducing environment-friendly public transport (CNG buses) service.