New rail project to cut Islamabad-Rawalpindi travel time to 20 minutes

The federal government has approved a modern high-speed rail project aimed at reducing travel time between Islamabad and Rawalpindi to just 20 minutes.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting on Monday, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.

Officials said the project is expected to save time and fuel, ease traffic congestion, and provide residents with a fast and affordable transport option.

The rail link will run from Margalla Station in Islamabad to Saddar Station in Rawalpindi, with work on the framework agreement set to be finalised and signed next week. Under the plan, the Ministry of Railways will provide the track infrastructure, while the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will operate the service.

The government also approved the import of state-of-the-art trains to ensure modern, comfortable, and efficient operations.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the interior secretary, the secretary of railways, the CDA chairman, the Rawalpindi commissioner, the Islamabad Police Inspector General, and representatives of the Frontier Corps.