RAWALPINDI: A total of 469 trees and 715 shrubs have been relocated from Peshawar Road as construction work on three major underpasses worth Rs8 billion moves forward in the cantonment area. The project covers key points including Race Course Park, Army Graveyard, and Chairing Cross, aimed at easing traffic congestion on one of the city’s busiest arteries.
Following directives from the federal and Punjab governments to avoid tree cutting after public criticism over environmental damage in Islamabad, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board was tasked with safely relocating affected trees. The trees were shifted from Qasim Market to Chairing Cross and replanted in nearby green belts and open spaces.
Cantonment Executive Officer Amir Rasheed said that 469 trees and 715 shrubs impacted by the development work have been replanted in and around Peshawar Road. Among them were large species including pilkan, sheesham, alstonia, peepal, pine, ashoke, eucalyptus, and terminalia. Additionally, 74 dead trees were removed, and on the recommendation of the Environment Protection Agency Punjab, ten new trees will be planted for each dead tree.
The RCB has also planned to plant more than 400 full grown healthy local tree varieties after completion of the underpasses to ensure environmental sustainability. Nursery cultivation has been accelerated to support large scale replanting once construction concludes in late May. Green belts are being extended from Lane 5 to Motorway Chowk and onward to Chur Chowk to enhance urban greenery.
Meanwhile, Iesco has completed relocation of electricity pylons from Chairing Cross to Radio Pakistan, with remaining work expected to finish by the end of February. The Frontier Works Organisation has initiated construction of a dedicated utility corridor to facilitate service providers before full scale civil works begin.
Punjab Highway Department officials confirmed that formal construction will start after Eidul Fitr once all utilities are shifted. The underpass project is expected to be completed within 70 days, promising improved traffic flow and reduced congestion on Peshawar Road.
