CDA to conduct feasibility study on RMTS

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has short-listed three international consultant firms for a feasibility study of Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a senior official of CDA Planning Wing told Daily Times. The CDA Planning Wing will select one of these firms within the next few days to conduct the feasibility study of the project, he said, adding that the authority had prepared a Term of Reference (TOR) to launch the project.

The official said that the CDA, after receiving technical and financial bids from the interested international firms, had sent the TOR to them. The authority had selected five firms for pre-qualification, he added. He said, through the TOR the authority had informed the interested firms that they would have to collect and review all planning and transportation data of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The official said, according to the TOR, the selected firm would conduct comprehensive field surveys and traffic counts to understand present day travel requirements. The firm would also review current travel patterns and the operation of available public transport systems for the development of the RMTS system, he said.

He added that under the TOR, the firm would be bound to complete the feasibility study within eight months. The traffic problem is being aggravated due to the growing population of the twin cities. He added that the population of the twin cities was growing at a rate of more than four percent per year, comparatively higher than the national growth, indicating a significant increase in migration to the cities from rural areas.

The official said, according to the TOR the present population of Islamabad was 1.2 million and currently both the cities could accommodate a population of over 2.78 million. With the present growth trend, it is expected that it will increase to seven million in 25 years, therefore the launching of the RMTS on an immediate basis is a must, he added.