RAWALPINDI: After months of gridlock, diversions and frustration, the long awaited Katchery Chowk remodelling project is finally set to open for traffic next week, bringing major relief to more than 250,000 daily commuters in Rawalpindi.

Chief Traffic Officer Farhan Aslam confirmed that the signal free interchange, featuring flyovers and underpasses, is expected to become operational by Tuesday. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is likely to inaugurate the mega project, which has remained one of the city’s most closely watched infrastructure developments.

Since construction began in November 2025, commuters faced severe traffic congestion, damaged alternative routes, rising fuel expenses and long travel delays across the city’s busiest corridors. Dust pollution and disrupted movement around district courts and Police Lines also triggered widespread complaints from residents and businesses.

Officials say the revamped Katchery Chowk has been designed to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow without signals or bottlenecks. New pedestrian bridges connecting the FBR building, district courts, Fatima Jinnah Women University and Adiala Road have also been completed to improve public safety and reduce crossing risks.

Residents have welcomed the development as a game changing step for Rawalpindi’s traffic system. Daily commuters travelling between Bahria Town, Peshawar Road and central city areas believe the project will dramatically cut travel time and ease pressure on surrounding roads that remained overloaded during construction.

However, some citizens also urged authorities to ensure long term maintenance after inauguration. Residents pointed to previous projects where poor upkeep led to broken lighting systems and deteriorating road conditions. Despite these concerns, the opening of Katchery Chowk is being seen as a landmark moment for Rawalpindi’s urban transport network and a major victory for traffic management in the city.