The Punjab Highway Department has directed National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) to review the design of three planned underpasses on Peshawar Road within two days, allowing construction work to begin in the first week of April. The project aims to improve traffic flow along one of Rawalpindi’s busiest corridors.
According to Highway Department Superintending Engineer Ashfaq Sulehri, the Rs8 billion development project is expected to start shortly and is targeted for completion before the upcoming monsoon season. Authorities believe timely execution will help minimize construction delays caused by seasonal rains.
Officials stated that although the design had already received approval from Punjab’s Planning and Development Department, NESPAK has been asked to reassess traffic management plans. The review focuses on ensuring smoother vehicle movement between Saddar Rawalpindi and Qasim Market Rawalpindi, where congestion remains a daily challenge.
The department also plans to widen nearby link roads to prevent bottlenecks, applying lessons learned from similar infrastructure projects completed in Lahore. Officials believe these additional improvements will enhance long-term traffic efficiency beyond the underpasses themselves.
Utility relocation work has already begun, with agencies including Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited instructed to shift infrastructure quickly. Electricity pylons between Racecourse Park Rawalpindi and Chairing Cross Rawalpindi have already been relocated, while lampposts and water lines will follow soon.
Authorities confirmed that traffic on Peshawar Road will remain partially operational during construction, with at least one lane open on each side to maintain vehicle movement. Alternative routes have also been identified, while the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board has been tasked with completing patchwork on surrounding roads to reduce inconvenience for commuters.
Meanwhile, land acquisition is underway to construct service lanes stretching from Radio Pakistan Rawalpindi to Rafay Mall. More than 40 kanals of land will be acquired under Section 4, including portions of land near traffic police offices, with most property belonging to military authorities and some privately owned plots.
The underpasses project is designed to ease heavy congestion on Peshawar Road, where more than 250,000 vehicles travel daily. Officials expect the initiative to significantly reduce travel time and improve traffic management across Rawalpindi once completed.
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