The long-awaited Rs14 billion Katchery Chowk remodeling project in Rawalpindi has achieved 30 percent progress, marking a major step toward easing chronic traffic congestion in the garrison city. The Punjab government aims to complete the project by June 30 as work continues simultaneously at three major locations. The busy intersection connects four critical routes including GT Road toward Islamabad and Rawat, Peshawar Road toward the motorway, Rashid Minhas Road toward Raja Bazaar and the old Airport Road toward Koral.
The area surrounding Katchery Chowk hosts district courts, major government offices and key police and administrative establishments, resulting in an overwhelming daily traffic load. As part of a larger Rs30 billion signal free corridor plan, the ongoing works include two flyovers and three underpasses designed to accommodate over 250,000 vehicles per day. According to officials, Rs5.974 billion has been allocated for a four lane flyover between The Mall and Rashid Minhas Road along with a 26.5 feet wide underpass providing access from the old Airport Road to Saddar.
Another segment costing Rs4.672 billion covers the Annexy Chowk to Jinnah Park stretch, where a flyover and underpass will handle more than 142,000 vehicles daily. Meanwhile, a two lane single barrel underpass worth Rs2.688 billion is being built to manage around 146,000 vehicles traveling between Iftikhar Janjua Road and Katchery Chowk. The project had been delayed for more than a decade due to traffic management challenges but was finally launched under the Punjab Communication and Works Department.
Officials confirm that land has been acquired from Fatima Jinnah Women University, district courts, tax offices, the commissioner’s office, Jinnah Park and nearby military land. With Rs3.5 billion already released, the Frontier Works Organisation is working round the clock to meet the deadline. Authorities aim to cut the travel time between Katchery and Nur Khan Airbase from more than one hour to just 20 minutes once the signal free corridor becomes operational.
Residents have expressed optimism but also frustration over the poor condition of alternative routes that were not repaired before construction began. Roads such as Bostan Khan Road and Jhanda Chichi Road remain riddled with potholes despite temporary patchwork by local departments. Many commuters hope that the completion of the mega project will finally resolve long standing traffic problems across the city.
