ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the Jinnah Square Murree Road underpass and road network project to connect Murree Road with Srinagar Highway while two other road projects – Shaheen Chowk and widening of Faizabad interchange – are on cards.

Traffic coming from Murree Road will now have direct access to Srinagar Highway. After completion of this project, Srinagar Highway from Islamabad Airport to Murree has become signal free.

The CDA started the road widening work of the said project in March while work on the underpass started on April 17 with the prime minister laying the foundation stone. The underpass project was completed in a record 35 days.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and his team as well as the contractor and consultant for completing the project, including landscaping, in record 35 days.

CDA to start work on Shaheen Chowk, widening of Faizabad Interchange as well as chairlift, Safari Park projects

The prime minister said the underpass and almost nine kilometer-long connectivity route of this project would not only benefit the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad but also the entire nation because of its smooth connectivity to Murree.

Mr Sharif said just 35 days before he had laid the foundation stone of the project [underpass] and now he was inaugurating it in record time.

He said the entire team of the interior minister deserved appreciation. He also appreciated Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi for traffic management during construction work.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the prime minister about the project and stated that it was executed in record time as work continued on it day and night.

He said soon CDA would start work on Shaheen Chowk, widening of Faizabad Interchange as well as chairlift and Safari Park projects.

The interior minister said Shaheen Chowk was a very important project as several universities were located there and people and students faced inconvenience due to the traffic congestion. He said designing of this project was being finalised.

Sources in the CDA said the interchange/flyover project would be constructed on the intersection of 9th Avenue and Khayaban-i-Iqbal (also known as Margalla Road).

It is relevant to note here that before the said Murree Road underpass project, there was no direct link for traffic coming from Murree and Azad Kashmir to Srinagar Highway. Therefore, motorists used to go to Kashmir Chowk roundabout to take a turn to enter Srinagar Highway.

During this process, people often got caught up in traffic mess at the roundabout. Now, people particularly daily travelers from Murree, Bhara Kahu and adjoining areas will have smooth entry to Srinagar Highway. The CDA completed the said project as part of Jinnah Square Interchange Project [Serena Interchange].

The Serena project worth Rs 4.2 billion was completed a few months ago and the engineering wing of the CDA, after approval from the board, made the underpass project a part of Serena project with 15pc variation of its original cost.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by federal ministers Hanif Abbasi and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and ministers of state Talal Chaudhry, Talha Burki and others parliamentarians.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2025