Rawalpindi:
The long-awaited project for the duration of the Rawalpindi-Kahuta highway, one of the most critical routes that Rawalpindi link with Azad Cashmira, has officially incorporated into the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for fiscal year 2025-26.
The project also covers the construction of a top four -lane bridge at the Sihala railway door and the development of derivations in Sihala and Kahuta. It is estimated that the total cost of the project exceeds RS23.84 billion. At the end, the travel time between Rawalpindi and Kahuta will be reduced to only 40 minutes.
The stretch of 28.4 kilometers from Kacheri Chowk in Rawalpindi to the main bazaar in Kahuta, which passes by itself, serves as a vital link that connects with two key routes that lead to Kotli and Rawalakot in Kashmir Azad. Currently, the absence of a dual road and a upper bridge at the Sihala railway door has resulted in frequent congestion of traffic, accidents and daily casualties along this critical corridor.
The severely deteriorated condition of the single lane road has stretched what should be a one -hour trip in a two to half -hour test.
The increase in traffic pressure on this close route continuously hinders traffic flow.
To address these problems, the project has now been incorporated into the PSDP under the supervision of the National Road Authority (NHA) as part of the current development program in the federal budget.
The project obtained the approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on July 27, 2023. Includes the duration of the Kahuta road, the construction of the upper bridge at the Sihala railway crossing, the development of derivations in Sihala and Kahuta, compensation for displaced properties and the reception of utility services.
It is worth noting that the Rawalpindi-Kahuta route through Si Sihala is the shortest way for several key destinations. In addition to providing direct access to Kotli and Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir, this route also connects Kahuta with Matur, Bewar and Kallar Syedan through Chowk Pandori, as well as Kotli Sattian and Murree.
Given the importance of this corridor, the need to drear the Rawalpindi-Kahuta road and build a higher bridge at the Sihala railway door has been long. The successive governments have made repeated promises to initiate and complete the project, but remained unfinished, which resulted in continuous difficulties for travelers.
The sources say that this route is an existing but incomplete NH project. While some work had previously begun, he stayed without finishing. However, it has now been decided to complete the project as quickly as possible. The route is under federal and punjab jurisdictions: from Kacheri Chowk to Sawan in Rawalpindi, including the Model Town industrial triangle to Si Sihala and Ari Syedan, the area is located within the territory of Islamabad; From Ari Syedan to Kahuta, the road falls under the jurisdiction of Punjab.
