RAWALPINDI: After completion of the GPO underpass and Nawaz Sharif flyover, the Communication and Works Department has started work to construct three underpasses at Race Course Park, army graveyard and Chairing Cross on Peshawar Road.

“Punjab government has already allocated Rs2.6 billion for Race Course Park underpass, Rs1.9 billion for the army graveyard underpass and Rs1.5 billion for Chairing Cross underpass in the annual development programme 2025-26,” said a senior official of the district administration.

He said the department would prepare PC-I of these projects, adding work was likely to start after monsoon rains. He said the government will give formal approval after getting PC-I of these projects.

There is also a plan to start work on Kutchery Chowk underpass, but there are some problems in acquiring the land. He said the government also wanted to construct a flyover in front of Jinnah Park on the old airport road. It is expected that work on the flyover and underpass on Kutchery Chowk will start simultaneously.

Punjab govt has allocated funds for underpasses in ADP 2025-26

The official said after construction of the three new underpasses, Mall and Peshawar roads will be signal free from Kutchery to the Motorway Chowk.

He said the Punjab government had decided to reduce travel time on Peshawar Road by making it a signal-free corridor. The local administration has been directed to start work on a project to connect Islamabad Expressway with the motorway Chowk via Peshawar Road so commuters would get an alternative to Srinagar Highway. He said the project would also improve the condition of roads and squares in the area.

“There are two routes to connect New Islamabad Airport and Motorway with Rawat and residential areas along Old Airport including Islamabad Expressway to Srinagar Highway and second is I.J.Principal Road as due to traffic congestion on Peshawar Road mostly people I.J. P. road which is relatively long,” he said.

He said that Rawalpindi Ring Road will also provide alternative route but in future, Peshawar Road will be signal free for the residents of Rawalpindi to reach New Islamabad International Airport and Motorway without any hurdle.

“The provincial government is also working to launch electric buses in Rawalpindi and it will connect the public transport for airport and motorway route and signal free corridor will be beneficial in this regard also,” he said.

He said that more than 100 electric buses will ply on different routes of Rawalpindi.

He said that the road from Rawat T-Chowk to Kutchery Chowk was already signal-free. Pirwadhai Mor to Motorway Chowk is signal-free and after construction of new underpasses, the patch from Military Hospital to Pirwadhai Mor will be signal-free and movement of buses and vehicles will be easy.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Development Authority was assigned to start work but later the Communication and Works Department was given the task to initiate work on GPO and the Mall underpasses.

A senior official of the department told Dawn that work had been launched to prepare PC-I and in this regard a survey of the area had started. He said a consultant will be hired to make PC-I by the end of July while work was likely to start after the monsoon.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2025