Islamabad Double-Decker Electric Bus Plan Explained

Islamabad may get a new tourist bus service, but it is not final yet. According to source reports, the Capital Development Authority is studying a plan for a double-decker electric bus tour of the city, but key steps like feasibility, cost approval, procurement, and final permission are still pending.

The idea is simple enough: a small fleet of sightseeing buses that could take visitors around some of Islamabad’s best-known spots. But for now, it is still a plan on paper, not a confirmed service for passengers. For background, read our earlier coverage: Islamabad Electric Bus Service Fully Operational on 21 Routes.

Four buses for a 25-kilometre city tour

According to source reports at https://www.dawn.com/news/2030673/capital-development-authority-plans-to-launch-double-decker-bus-service-to-promote-tourism , the first phase could include four double-decker electric buses. For background, read our earlier coverage: Islamabad Electric Tram Service 2026: CDA Starts Feasibility Study for New Routes.

The reported route is a 25-kilometre tour starting from F-9 Park and passing major attractions such as Faisal Mosque, Lok Virsa, and Shakarparian.

That sounds useful for families, visitors, and people who want a relaxed city trip instead of a regular bus ride. Still, the exact stops, fare, operating hours, ticketing method, and charging points have not been announced.

Why CDA has asked HIT to study it

Source reports say CDA has approached Heavy Industries Taxila for a feasibility study and cost estimate. That step matters because it should help the authority judge whether the idea is practical, what it may cost, and how the buses could be procured.

One reported option is importing buses from China, but no supplier or model has been selected. So even the vehicle source remains undecided.

This is important for readers because a sightseeing bus service needs more than a nice route. CDA must also work out vehicle choice, charging setup, route planning, and daily operations before the first trip can happen.

The three-month timeline is only a hope for now

A CDA official was quoted in the source reports as saying the service could be made functional within three months if everything goes as planned. That is a conditional estimate, not a confirmed launch date.

Before that happens, CDA still needs the feasibility findings, procurement decision, cost approval, bus delivery, route preparation, charging arrangements, and testing. If any of those steps take longer, the launch could move back.

No ticket price or total project cost has been shared in the reported information.

Islamabad already has a big electric bus network

The new idea is different from Islamabad’s existing electric bus system. According to source reports, CDA already runs electric buses through a contractor on more than 20 routes, with a fleet of over 160 buses.

For readers, that means this proposed double-decker service would be a tourism add-on, not a replacement for the city’s regular transport network.

What to watch next

For now, the main question is whether CDA turns this proposal into a real launch. Readers should watch for HIT’s feasibility report, the final procurement plan, the confirmed route map, fare structure, timetable, and charging details.

Source reports also note that CDA has announced tram ideas in the past, but those plans did not materialise. That makes it wise to wait for a formal announcement before making travel plans around this new bus route.

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