Rawalpindi: The Punjab government has approved the construction of three underpasses along Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi, with an estimated cost of Rs6 billion. Work is scheduled to begin next month after the completion of bidding and preparatory formalities.
According to senior officials of the Punjab Highway Department, the underpasses will be developed at Race Course Park, Army Graveyard, and Chairing Cross. The initiative is part of a broader plan to ease traffic congestion and establish a signal-free corridor from Katcheri Chowk to Motorway Chowk.
As part of the project, a dedicated utility services corridor will also be introduced from Saddar to Pirwadhai Mor. Gas pipelines, telephone cables, and electricity wires will be placed within this corridor, eliminating the recurring practice of digging up roads for utility work.
Funding has already been allocated under the Punjab Annual Development Programme 2025-26, with Rs2.6 billion earmarked for the Race Course Park underpass, Rs1.9 billion for the Army Graveyard underpass, and Rs1.5 billion for the Chairing Cross underpass.
Officials noted that once completed, the new underpasses will reduce travel time from Katcheri to Motorway Chowk to nearly 20 minutes, making Peshawar Road and The Mall completely signal-free.
In addition, work is expected to start next month on three other long-awaited projects: the Katcheri Chowk flyover and underpass, Jinnah Park underpass, and Ammar Chowk flyover. The provincial government has directed concerned departments to expedite utility shifting and land acquisition so construction can begin simultaneously.
Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer of the Punjab Highway Department, confirmed that preparations are nearly complete. “The provincial government has instructed us to make arrangements to begin work immediately, starting with the shifting of services on Peshawar Road,” he said.
Officials emphasised that these projects mark a significant step toward tackling Rawalpindi’s chronic traffic bottlenecks and delivering smoother, faster connectivity across the city.
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