RAWALPINDI: Construction of three major underpasses on Peshawar Road will commence immediately after Eidul Fitr as authorities accelerate efforts to ease mounting traffic congestion on one of the city’s busiest corridors. Officials confirmed that 70 percent of the work to relocate electricity pylons has already been completed, clearing the way for full scale development.
Punjab Highway Executive Engineer Qamar Ali Saqib said shifting of critical utilities from Chairing Cross to Race Course Park is progressing steadily and is expected to be finalized by mid March. The government has directed that the Rs8 billion project must be completed by June 30, ahead of the monsoon season, to avoid weather related delays and ensure smooth traffic flow.
The administration has deliberately scheduled construction after Eid holidays to prevent additional traffic pressure in the city. Currently, more than 200000 vehicles are using alternative routes due to ongoing infrastructure works. Once completed, the three underpasses along with two flyovers will facilitate the movement of over 250000 vehicles daily, significantly reducing travel time and congestion.
Parallel to the underpass initiative, work on the Kutchery Chowk remodeling project has reached nearly 85 percent completion and is expected to be finalized by the end of March. Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board has completed the relocation of trees along Peshawar Road, ensuring environmental compliance before heavy construction begins.
In a related development, the district administration has imposed Section 4 to acquire more than 40 kanals of land required for the project. Compensation rates for commercial and residential properties have been fixed according to prevailing market values, with formal notices issued to affected landowners including traffic police facilities and commercial properties near Qasim Market.
Officials stated that the land acquisition process will be completed within two to three weeks, paving the way for uninterrupted construction. The ambitious infrastructure overhaul is being viewed as a transformative step toward modernizing Rawalpindi’s urban transport network.
