Margalla tourist train launched

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Saturday launched Margalla Tourists train to promote tourism in the capital city and facilitate the visitors by providing them with a unique travelling experience. CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inyat Elahi inaugurated the project worth Rs 36 million. Talking to media people, he said the main objective of Margalla tourists train was to promote tourism and attract tourists in the federal capital.
The train service would not only attract tourists but also play an important role in revenue generation, Elahi observed. The CDA chief said the civic body had recently established Tourism Division to promote tourism. He added the CDA would soon launch public transport system to solve the growing transport problems. To a question, he revealed the CDA would soon launch a sector for low-income group.
Elahi said the tourists train would start its journey from Rose & Jasmine Garden with a speed of 20 to 25 kilometers per hour and cover different landmarks of the city, including Kashmir Highway, National Monument, Zero Point, Faisal Mosque, Zoo, Japanese Park (stopover for 30 minutes), Saidpur village, Jinnah Supermarket, 7th Avenue and Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park) and reach Rose & Jasmine Garden back at the set time.
The ticket for adults is Rs 200 and for children up to 10 years Rs 150, he further said. He disclosed that there would be special concession for the disabled. The CDA has offered 50 per cent discount to the people for boarding the train during the first month. The timing of mini tourists train during the summer will be 6pm to 7pm and on Sunday it will operate from 10am to 11:30am. During the winter season its timing will be 3pm to 4:30pm (Sunday 11am to 12:30pm). During the month of holy Ramazan, the train will operate from 5pm to 6pm.
The CDA chairman said that while travelling in the train, the tourists will enjoy instrumental music while a well-versed tourist guide will provide information to them during the journey both in Urdu and English languages. The tourist package will also include a leisure walk and refreshment in the Japanese Park, he disclosed. He added tourists would also enjoy street performance and photo shoot at mid point with on-board quiz for children at the end of the journey about the capital city and tourist sites, which would enhance the knowledge of children.