Rawalpindi administration has tightened controls on road excavation, requiring government departments and utility companies to obtain prior approval before digging up roads for development or underground utility work.
Commissioner Rawalpindi Salman Ghani issued the directives during a coordination meeting on Thursday, October 22, to address repeated road cutting, traffic disruption and damage to public infrastructure.
Under the instructions, departments must secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) before starting any approved road-cutting activity. Authorities have also directed the responsible agencies to restore damaged roads to their original standard within 15 days.
The measures aim to improve project coordination, reduce inconvenience for commuters and prevent roads from being repeatedly excavated after construction or repair.
Commissioner Orders Prior Approval for Road Excavation
Commissioner Salman Ghani expressed concern over unnecessary road cutting for development projects and utility installations.
He directed government departments and service providers to coordinate their activities before beginning work. Agencies must also share information about existing underground services and planned infrastructure projects.
The instructions are intended to prevent situations in which newly constructed or recently repaired roads are dug up again for pipelines, cables or other utility connections.
Officials from relevant departments and service providers attended the coordination meeting to review road-cutting permissions and underground infrastructure requirements.
Damaged Roads Must Be Repaired Within 15 Days
Under the new directives, agencies carrying out authorised excavation must restore the affected road sections within 15 days.
The restoration work must bring the road back to its original standard, including the required structural repairs and resurfacing.
Departments have also been instructed to establish clear schedules for backfilling and reconstruction before excavation begins.
The deadline is intended to prevent road sections from remaining damaged for extended periods after utility work is completed.
Authorities Encourage Modern Excavation Methods
The commissioner directed utility companies to use modern construction techniques wherever possible to minimise damage to road surfaces.
These methods include thrust boring and ducting, which can allow underground services to be installed with less extensive surface excavation.
Road cutting should be treated as a last resort when an alternative method is not technically suitable.
Where conventional excavation is necessary, the responsible agency must obtain the required NOC and complete road restoration within the prescribed timeframe.
SNGPL Gets Conditional Approval for Work in Multiple Areas
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) received permission to carry out underground utility work in 10 designated localities, according to the reported meeting details.
The locations listed in the report include:
- Pirwadhai
- Novelty Cinema
- Khurshid Cinema
- Chah Sultan
- Asghar Mall
- Fazalabad
- Dhoke Hukumdad
- Dhoke Kala Khan
- Chandni Chowk
The permission is subject to the applicable conditions and road restoration requirements.
The supplied information refers to 10 localities but names only nine. The complete list should be confirmed with the relevant authorities before publication.
Departments Told to Coordinate Before Development Projects
Commissioner Ghani also directed government departments to identify underground utility relocation requirements during the initial planning of major development schemes.
Joint coordination meetings are intended to help agencies identify existing infrastructure and schedule their work before construction begins.
Better planning could reduce repeated excavation, prevent avoidable road damage and limit disruption to traffic.
The instructions place greater responsibility on departments and utility companies to coordinate projects, secure approvals and restore public roads on time.
New Rules Aim to Reduce Road Damage in Rawalpindi
Repeated road excavation has been a concern for residents and commuters because it can cause traffic congestion, increase maintenance costs and leave road surfaces in poor condition.
The latest directives seek to address these issues through mandatory approval, improved coordination and a fixed restoration deadline.
Residents will be able to assess the impact of the measures as approved projects proceed and damaged road sections are restored.
In other news read more about: CM Maryam Nawaz Orders Strict Action Against Spy Devices Over Privacy Concerns
Source note: This report is based on the reported directives issued by the Rawalpindi commissioner on October 22, 2026. Project-specific permissions and the complete list of approved localities should be verified with the relevant authorities.
