Chinese company to carry out circular railway feasibility study.

Byline: Aamir Yasin

RAWALPINDI -- The federal and provincial governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) on Thursday to begin the feasibility study of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Circular Railway and Leh Nullah Expressway projects.

The MoU was signed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Planning Dr Shahid Mehmood on behalf of the federal government, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chief Engineer Amir Rasheed on behalf of the Punjab government and Jia Huiqin on behalf of the CCECC.

The signing was attended by Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood, PTI MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique and CCECC representatives.

The company will conduct a study on the operation of a train service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad along the Leh Nullah, from the Soan River near the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench to Kashmir Highway in Islamabad.

There was a similar plan during the regime of Gen Pervez Musharraf to run a train service between the twin cities, which was halted by the PML-N government.

As part of the metro bus service, the PML-N Punjab government built an elevated track with future requirements to run a train over it. However, the PTI government wants to run a separate track for a circular rail service along the Nullah Leh Expressway.

The CCECC is a state-owned Chinese company that is willing to work with the CDA and RDA on the feasibility study and technical and financial proposal and enter into a contract with both...