Transport in Islamabad

For Islamabad, all major cities and towns are accessible through regular trains and bus services running mostly from the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi. Lahore and Peshawar are linked to Islamabad through a network of motorways which has resulted in a significant reduction in travelling times between these cities. M-2 Motorway is 367 km long and connects Islamabad with Lahore.[1] M-1 Motorway connects Islamabad with Peshawar and is 155 km long.[1] Islamabad is linked to its 'Twin' city Rawalpindi through the Faizabad Interchange, the first cloverleaf interchange in Pakistan with a daily traffic volume of about 48,000 vehicles (2011).[2]

Road sign Islamabad

Road transport

Territorial Roads and Highways
Main article: Territorial Highways of Islamabad Capital Territory

Motorways
Main articles: M-1 motorway (Pakistan) and M-2 motorway (Pakistan)

M-2 Motorway is 367 km long and connects Islamabad with Lahore.[1] M-1 Motorway connects Islamabad with Peshawar and is 155 km long.[1]

National Highways

Public transport
Public transport network in Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area

Local buses and wagons
A model bus stop at Kashmir Chowk (Adjacent to Islamabad Club)

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration operates buses to serve the local community. As of 2021, there are 15 operational routes along which the buses and wagons operate.[3]

Metrobus
Main article: Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus near The Centaurus.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus is a 22.5 km (14.0 mi) bus rapid transit system operating in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area of Pakistan. The Metrobus network's first phase was opened on 4 June 2015, and stretches 22 kilometres between Pak Secretariat, in Islamabad, and Saddar in Rawalpindi. The second stage is currently under construction, and stretched 25.6 kilometres between the Peshawar Morr Interchange and New Islamabad International Airport.[4]

Sightseeing buses

The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab operates tourist buses from Allama Iqbal Park and Shamsabad bringing tourists to Constitution Avenue via Shakarparian. The main attractions on the bus route include Faisal Mosque, Marghrzar Zoo, Daman-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian, Rose and Jasmine Garden, Allama Iqbal Park, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.[5]

Light rail transit and monorail proposals

Some Chinese firms have shown keen interests on constructing a Monorail and Light rail system in the federal capital Islamabad.[6][7]

Public transportation issues

Surveys conducted in 2012 for the Pre-Feasibility Study of the Bus rapid transit have shown that more than 90% of residents of the city are unhappy with the current public transportation system of the city.[8]

The lack of a better public transport system and low emphasis on walkability has led to rapid growth in the vehicle population and has made the city planning more automobile-centric to cope with increasing traffic. The accompanying petroleum consumption and the now car-centric city planning - accompanying the rapid expansion of city have also caused environmental pollution and damage.[9][10][11]

Private transport

Ride hailing

People use private ride hailing services like Careem, Uber, Bykea, and InDriver for their local journeys. In March 2016, Careem introduced its service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. In September 2019, Swvl expanded its operations to Islamabad.[12]

Taxicabs

Most of the registered Taxicabs in Islamabad were introduced during 1990s through loan packages from Yellow Cab Scheme.[13] There are also some privately-owned taxicab services such as those offered by Albayrak and Metro Radio Cab.[10][14]

Rail transport
Islamabad railway station

The following stations serve Islamabad by rail:

Air transport
Islamabad International Airport

Islamabad is connected to major destinations around the world through Islamabad International Airport, which replaced the old Benazir Bhutto International Airport in middle of 2018.[16] The new airport is the largest in Pakistan. It is the first green field airport in Pakistan and has an area of 3,600-acre (15 km2).[17]

See also

References
  1. National Highway Authority Pakistan. "Motorway's of Pakistan".
  2. NESPAK. "Faizabad Interchange". Archived from the original on 2011-08-10.
  3. "Transport route fares". Islamabad Capital Territory Administration.
  4. "Metro Bus extension: NHA assures timely completion - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  5. "Guided tours on double-decker buses to launch in Islamabad and Rawalpindi". Islamabad scene.
  6. "Chinese firm sees monorail service feasible". Express Tribune.
  7. "Chinese firm offers to build light rail in Islamabad". ProPakistani.
  8. Pre-Feasibility Study on Bus Rapid Transit Project Islamabad, Pakistan (PDF). Cities Development Initiative for Asia.
  9. "Quality of air in Islamabad declining". Dawn.
  10. Hinako Minagi. "Transportation in Islamabad".
  11. "Billions wasted on faulty road projects". Weekly Pulse. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. "SWVL to invest $25m to fund in Pakistan". samaa.tv. November 3, 2019.
  13. "Yellow Cab Scheme Hits Financial Hurdles". The Christian Science Monitor. September 1, 1993.
  14. "Pakistanis worry as online taxis get expensive". Samaa TV.
  15. "Golra Railway Station, museum not appealing any more". Pakistan Today. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  16. Geo News. "PM names Islamabad Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport". Archived from the original on 2015-07-15.
  17. CPG Corporation. "New Islamabad International Airport's Passenger Terminal Building". Archived from the original on 2007-11-21.
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