Major infrastructure boost 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 redesign the city’s roadmap and ease the burden on millions of commuters.
Under a Rs 33,000-crore package, the garrison city is being transformed into a signal-free city by constructing redesigned flyovers, underpasses and junctions at long-standing choke points.
Commissioned Engineer Aamir Khattak recently confirmed that work on the mega plans is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule. The projects target some of the city’s most congested junctions, including Kachehri Chowk, Jinnah Park, Iftikhar Janjua Road, Annex 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 center of this transformation. The three multi-crore underpasses, which are part of the Annual Development Program 2025-26, will create a continuous signal-free route from Ammar Chowk to the expressway entrance at Chungi No 26, benefiting nearly two million residents and around 250,000 daily commuters.
More than 250,000 vehicles pass through the Race Course Ground (Qasim Market) underpass alone, which costs Rs 3,091 million. It features a two-lane, single-canyon structure that extends 1,886 feet, along with 2.9 kilometers of rehabilitation road. The Army Graveyard Chowk underpass (Rs 2.679 billion) and Charing Cross underpass (Rs 2.9 billion) follow similar designs, each incorporating U-turn facilities to improve access to GT Road.
According to Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer (EXEN) of Punjab Highways, the three underpasses are scheduled to be completed by June next year. “Together, they will turn Peshawar Road into a seamless, signal-free corridor and significantly improve connectivity,” he said.
Beyond road construction, the plan also addresses parking chaos. A Rs 1.6-crore parking space is being constructed on unused land in Jinnah Park, while five additional parking spaces have been identified in Saddar and Cantonment areas. The allocations include Rs 5,900 crore for Kachehri Chowk, Rs 3,900 crore for Annex Chowk and Rs 2,600 crore for Iftikhar Janjua Chowk. The renovation of Kachehri Chowk is scheduled to be completed by May 31 next year.
Previous projects, including the GPO underpass and TM Chowk redevelopment, are already easing traffic flow, while the Nawaz Sharif flyover on Adiala Road has turned a once-interrupted route into a seamless link to the under-construction ring road.
The broader vision is anchored by the 38-kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road, which the prime minister has ordered officials to speed up despite earlier delays. Once completed, the project, which features five interchanges, multiple bridges, underpasses and flyovers, is expected to unlock economic growth and dramatically improve mobility across the region.
However, while residents and merchants welcome these historic investments, concerns remain. Murree Road, the main socio-economic spine of the city, 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 widening alone will not solve the problem and are calling for specific interventions at this critical intersection.
Still, the scale and coordination of the Punjab government’s projects mark a turning point for Rawalpindi. If the deadlines hold, the city could soon shake off its reputation for gridlock and emerge with roads built for flow, not frustration.
