Islamabad Electric Tram Service 2026: CDA Starts Feasibility Study for New Routes
Capital Development Authority has begun work on an electric tram service in Islamabad. The move follows direct orders from the federal interior minister. The feasibility study must finish in three months. Routes planned from Islamabad Airport and Rawat to Lake View Park. The system will be fully cashless.

Table of Contents
- Minister’s Orders and Tight Timeline
- Two Main Routes Already Proposed
- How the Tram System Will Work
- Real Benefits for Daily Life in Islamabad
- Why This Matters Right Now
- What Comes Next
Islamabad’s traffic gets heavier every year. More cars, longer commutes, and busy roads around the airport and popular spots like Lake View Park. Now the Capital Development Authority has a clear plan to fix part of that problem.
They are starting an electric tram service. The idea came straight from the federal interior minister. CDA has already begun the first steps.
Minister’s Orders and Tight Timeline
The interior minister told CDA to prepare the full project. They must finish a detailed feasibility study in the next three months. After that, the plan will go into the upcoming federal budget for approval.
CDA has started the process of hiring a consultant. This expert will check every technical and operational detail so nothing gets missed later.
Two Main Routes Already Proposed
The first tram line will run from Islamabad International Airport to Lake View Park.
The second will connect Rawat to Lake View Park.
These routes make sense. The airport route serves thousands of daily travellers. The Rawat route links a busy outer area straight to a major city park. Both will give people a clean, reliable ride without depending on cars or crowded buses.
How the Tram System Will Work
The entire system will be cashless. Riders will use digital tickets on their phones. No more paper slips or long queues at counters.
Charging stations and proper depots will keep the trams running smoothly all day. The fleet will run on electricity only, which means zero smoke on the roads.
Later, planners want to link this tram network with the proposed glass train route towards Murree. That connection could open up easy travel for tourists and locals heading to the hills.
Real Benefits for Daily Life in Islamabad
Traffic jams around the airport and the Blue Area waste hours every week. An electric tram will cut that time down. People can sit back, avoid parking hassles, and reach Lake View Park without stress.
The project also helps the environment. Fewer cars on these routes means lower carbon emissions. Islamabad already feels the heat of climate change. Cleaner transport is one practical step forward.
Tourism will get a boost, too. Visitors landing at the airport can hop on the tram and reach Lake View Park in comfort. Families, students, and office workers all gain from better connectivity.
Why This Matters Right Now
Islamabad grows fast. New housing societies, more offices, and a rising population push traffic higher every month. The old road system cannot handle it forever.
Electric trams offer a modern solution that many big cities already use successfully. They move more people at once, cost less to run over time, and look neat in a green capital like ours.
CDA’s quick start shows they are serious. Three months for the study is a tight schedule. It tells us the government wants visible progress before the next budget.
What Comes Next
Once the consultant finishes the study, CDA will know the exact costs, station locations, and power needs. Then the federal government will decide funding in the budget.
If everything goes smoothly, actual construction could begin later in 2026. The first passengers might ride these trams within a few years.
For now, the news itself brings hope. Islamabad residents who drive the airport road daily or head to Lake View Park on weekends will watch this project closely.
Small steps like this add up. Better public transport means less time stuck in traffic, cleaner air, and easier days for everyone.
The electric tram is not just another announcement. It is a practical plan already in motion. And that is exactly what the city needs.For more updates, visit DrivePK.com
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Najeeb Khan
Automotive enthusiast and writer
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