Pindi's road upgrades hit fast track

Work on Rs35.28 billion mega project aimed at upgrading road infrastructure across Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas through Punjab government funding has gained momentum. The project includes the construction of four flyovers and eight underpasses.

A decision has also been taken to construct a flyover at Ammar Shaheed Chowk.

Of these structures, one flyover and two underpasses have already been completed, while work is ongoing on two flyovers and three underpasses. Construction on three additional underpasses will begin by December 20, and work on another flyover is scheduled to start next year.

Following the Metro bus project, this initiative represents a major long-term upgrade in the region's road infrastructure, with a plan to complete the two flyovers and three underpasses at Kutchery Chowk within four and a half months.

According to sources, the Nawaz Sharif Flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk — built at a cost of Rs4.4 billion — has been completed and opened to traffic, while redesigning, widening, and carpeting work on Adiala Road is ongoing. In Saddar, the GPO Chowk and TMA Chowk underpasses, constructed at a cost of Rs5.7349 billion, have also been opened to traffic. Meanwhile, work on the Kachehry Chowk flyover and underpass—launched on November 3 at a cost of Rs5.974249 billion—is scheduled for completion by April 30, 2026.

Similarly, the Jinnah Park flyover and underpass linked to Kachehry Chowk, costing Rs4.672245 billion, are set to be completed by March 30, 2026.

On Iftikhar Janjua Road, an underpass and road expansion project costing Rs2.688073 billion is underway since November 3 and will be completed by January 30, 2026.

At Ammar Shaheed Chowk, where an underpass and road expansion work had already been completed and opened to traffic, authorities have now decided to build an additional flyover due to rising traffic pressure.

The case for this new flyover — estimated to cost Rs3.45 billion — is currently under process, and construction will begin next year.

To establish a signal-free corridor from Kachehry Chowk to Motorway Chowk, the completion of the underpasses at TMA Chowk, GPO Chowk, and Golra Mor in Saddar will be followed by the construction of three more underpasses on Peshawar Road, starting December 20.

These include the Race Course Chowk underpass (Rs3.091073 billion), the Qabristan Chowk underpass (Rs2.679328 billion), and the Chairing Cross underpass (Rs2.588654 billion). Work on these three underpasses will be completed within three and a half months by March 30 next year.

Once completed, a signal-free corridor from Ammar Shaheed Chowk and Kachehry Chowk to Motorway Chowk will be established, providing seamless access to Islamabad International Airport and the motorway.

These projects are being executed under the supervision of the C&W Punjab as the executing agency.

A target schedule for completing the two flyovers and three underpasses at Kachehry Chowk within four and a half months has been issued.