Kachehri Chowk revamp set to start, easing traffic in Rawalpindi

A major remodelling project for Kachehri Chowk, one of the busiest intersections linking Rawalpindi city, the cantonment area and the GT Road is set to begin shortly.

Work has already begun on the University side, while the formal launch of the project is expected in the first week of November. More than 200,000 vehicles pass through Kachehri Chowk daily, with frequent congestion caused by traffic signals at Annexy, Kachehri and University Chowks.

Under the project, flyovers and underpasses will be built from Police Annex Chowk to University Chowk. The City Traffic Police Rawalpindi has drawn up a detailed traffic plan to keep vehicles moving during construction.

Once construction starts, Kachehri Chowk will be completely closed to traffic.

According to the traffic plan:

• Traffic from Rawat T-Chowk heading towards the Old Airport will use the Bahria Town Phase-I and Gulraiz routes via Bostan Khan Road to reach Car Chowk.

• Vehicles from Jhelum Road travelling to Peshawar Road, the New Islamabad Airport or the Motorway will be diverted via Morgah Turn and Attock Oil Refinery Road.

• From there, traffic will pass through Defence Road and the Khawaja Corporation flyover to reach School Road, continuing via Talha Morr, Kalma Chowk and Bakra Mandi Road to 22 Number Chowk.

• Traffic from Jhelum Road bound for Saddar will pass through New Lalazar, Foundation University and Rah-e-Aman Road, exiting at COD Chowk, before reaching CMH Emergency Gate and Family Ward to 22 Number Chowk.

• Vehicles from Jhelum Road heading to Murree Road will follow the COD Turn, Nazr Chowk, Burki Chowk, Count Chowk and Shalimar Chowk, reaching Murree Road via TM Chowk.

• Traffic from the Old Airport to Murree Road will move under Rahimabad Bridge via Chohan Chowk and Rawal Road.

• Vehicles from the Old Airport to Saddar will travel through Rawal Road, Fauji Tower and Tipu Road, reaching Moti Mahal Chowk and Saddar via Marrir Chowk.

Minor adjustments will apply to the return routes for traffic heading back to Jhelum Road, GT Road and the High Court. Separate routes have been designated for VVIP movement, according to sources.

Farhan Aslam, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi, said additional officers will be deployed at key points in three shifts to assist the public. The City Traffic Police will continue to issue regular updates through public address systems, social media and local media outlets.

Read: Multibillion-rupee road projects near completion

Project delays

The Kacheri Chowk Remodelling project which was boasted as a state-of-the-art and Pakistan's first double underpass project experience, was formally terminated owing to a plethora of hurdles in 2023.

According to sources, the huge estimated cost and non-availability of land for double underpasses and overhead bridges were cited as the main reasons behind the decision.

Due to the fact that the project was to be executed in one of the most sensitive areas of the garrison city, given its proximity to key military installations and residences of retired army generals, final clearance for the scheme was not given.

The project also faced opposition from the Rawalpindi District Bar Association.

Furthermore, government institutions including the Fatima Jinnah Women's University, the commissioner's office, the Civil Defence Department, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Income Tax Department refused to surrender their land for the project. Numerous law chambers and petrol pump owners also refused to surrender their properties.

The estimated total cost of the project stood at around Rs6.4 billion.

Read more: Govt axes Kacheri Chowk project

Major road projects

The Communication and Works (C\&W) Department oversees the construction of the Nawaz Sharif Flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk on Adiala Road, which is valued at Rs2.3 billion.

Similarly, the Mal Road underpasses project, worth Rs4.39 billion, involves the construction of underpasses at TM Chowk and Mall Plaza Chowk to eliminate traffic signals, as well as the construction of an underground pedestrian walkway near the Medicine Market.

Additionally, the C&W department had planned the construction of flyovers and underpasses at Kacheri Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk, and Chairing Cross Chowk, which will further streamline traffic along Mal Road and Peshawar Road.

Once completed, these projects will create a signal-free route from Kacheri Chowk to the motorway junction.