Rawalpindi's 'road revolution' gathers pace

Major infrastructure push promises much needed relief for millions of daily commuters

RAWALPINDI:

For decades, traffic congestion has defined daily life in Rawalpindi. Now, an ambitious wave of infrastructure development promises to redraw the city's road map and ease the burden on millions of commuters.

Under a Rs33 billion package, the garrison city is being transformed into a signal-free city through the construction of flyovers, underpasses, and redesigned intersections at long-standing choke points.

Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak recently confirmed that work on the mega schemes is moving smoothly and remains on schedule. The projects target some of the city's most congested junctions, including Kachehri Chowk, Jinnah Park, Iftikhar Janjua Road, Annexe Road, and Ammar Chowk, along with three major underpasses on Peshawar Road at Race Course Ground, Army Graveyard Road, and Charing Cross.

Peshawar Road—Rawalpindi's busiest artery—is at the heart of this transformation. The three multi-billion-rupee underpasses, part of the 2025–26 Annual Development Programme, will create a continuous signal-free route from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway entrance at Chungi No 26, benefiting nearly two million residents and around 250,000 daily commuters.

The Race Course Ground (Qasim Market) underpass, costing Rs3.091 billion, alone handles more than 250,000 vehicles daily. It features a single-barrel, two-lane structure stretching 1,886 feet, along with 2.9 kilometres of road rehabilitation. The Army Graveyard Chowk underpass (Rs2.679 billion) and Charing Cross underpass (Rs2.9 billion) follow similar designs, each incorporating U-turn facilities to improve access to GT Road.

According to Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer (EXEN), Punjab Highways, all three underpasses are scheduled for completion by June next year. "Together, they will convert Peshawar Road into a seamless, signal-free corridor and significantly improve connectivity," he said.

Beyond road construction, the plan also tackles parking chaos. A Rs1.6 billion parking plaza is under construction on unused land in Jinnah Park, while five additional parking sites have been identified in Saddar and Cantonment areas. Allocations include Rs5.9 billion for Kachehri Chowk, Rs3.9 billion for Annexe Chowk, and Rs2.6 billion for Iftikhar Janjua Chowk. The remodelling of Kachehri Chowk is targeted for completion by May 31 next year.

Earlier projects, including the GPO Underpass and TM Chowk remodelling, are already easing traffic flow, while the Nawaz Sharif Flyover on Adiala Road has turned a once-interrupted route into a smooth link toward the under-construction Ring Road.

The wider vision is anchored in the 38-kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road, which the chief minister has directed officials to fast-track despite earlier delays. Once completed, the project—featuring five interchanges, multiple bridges, underpasses, and overpasses—is expected to unlock economic growth and dramatically improve mobility across the region.

Yet, even as residents and traders welcome these historic investments, concerns persist. Murree Road, the city's main socio-economic spine, continues to choke—particularly at Liaqat Bagh Chowk, where traffic from Marir Chowk and Tipu Road often comes to a standstill for hours. Traders argue that lane expansion alone will not solve the problem and are calling for targeted interventions at this critical junction.

Still, the scale and coordination of the Punjab government's projects mark a turning point for Rawalpindi. If timelines hold, the city may soon shed its reputation for gridlock and emerge with roads built for flow, not frustration.