RAWALPINDI: Work has officially begun on modern pedestrian bridges at Katchery Chowk, marking a key milestone in the city’s massive remodelling project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving public safety. Authorities expect the bridges to be completed within a month.

A senior official from the Punjab Highway Department confirmed that construction resumed after Eid holidays, with crews now actively working on two major pedestrian bridges. One will connect Rashid Minhas Road near the FBR building to Jhelum Road at the district courts gate, while the other will link Fatima Jinnah University with the Adiala Road bus stand.

Officials said the bridges will be interconnected, forming a state of the art pedestrian network designed to allow safe crossing at one of Rawalpindi’s busiest intersections. The initiative addresses long standing concerns over pedestrian safety in an area surrounded by courts, administrative offices and heavy traffic flow.

Once completed, the redesigned Katchery Chowk is expected to handle over 250000 vehicles daily without traffic signals or bottlenecks. Pedestrians will be redirected to dedicated overhead pathways, reducing road level congestion and minimizing accident risks.

The Rs19 billion project is already more than 74 percent complete, with major infrastructure including two flyovers and three underpasses structurally finished. Road construction has crossed the halfway mark, while finishing work on the Jinnah Park flyover is currently underway.

Authorities have been instructed to maintain pace and meet deadlines, as road closures continue to inconvenience commuters. Officials added that drainage systems are nearly complete, with rainwater management and green belt irrigation integrated into the design, alongside ongoing horticulture work to enhance the urban landscape.