RAWALPINDI: Kutchery Chowk remodeling project worth Rs14 billion will be ready by May 31 while a parking plaza worth Rs1.6 billion will be constructed in Jinnah Park (formerly Bhutto Park).

This was stated by Divisional Commissioner Amir Khattak in a press briefing at Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation offices on Tuesday. Punjab Highway Department Superintendent Engineer Rao Tahir and other senior officials accompanied him.

It was informed that Kutchery Chowk remodeling project is part of Signal Free Corridor from Ammar Chowk to Motorway Chowk. The officials said that Rs3.9 billion is being spent on Jinnah Park/Annexe Chowk flyover and underpass, Rs5.9 billion on Kutcheri Chowk underpass and flyover, while Rs2.6 billion is being spent on Iftikhar Janjua Chowk underpass. A total of 31 kanals of land is being used for the project.

The commissioner further informed newsmen that a modern parking plaza is also being constructed in Jinnah Park at a cost of Rs1.6 billion. Commissioner Amir Khattak said that the Kutchery Chowk Remodeling Project was to be completed in 18 months under the agreement. But in view of the difficulties faced by the citizens, the government has decided to complete the project a year earlier by May 31.

He said that work is going on in double shifts for the early completion of the project so that the public faces minimum inconvenience. However, quality would not compromised.

The commissioner said that the main objective of this project is to improve traffic flow in the city and eliminate obstacles caused by parking on the roads.

For the same purpose, a parking plaza is being constructed in Jinnah Park, while proposals for setting up parking plazas in five more locations, including Saddar and Cantonment areas, have been sent to the higher authorities.

To a question regarding the shortage of graveyards, the commissioner said that free burial facilities will be provided in Rakh Dhamial Graveyard for public convenience.

The graveyard has been established and will be fully functional in the next three months.

He said that a medical testing laboratory will be established for the convenience of citizens and visits to government hospitals are being made on a daily basis.

Referring to the problems of Wasa, the commissioner said that work is currently underway on two major development projects and no new project will be allowed where Wasa is carrying out development activities.

The commissioner said that the 78 percent work on Ring Road project has been completed and it is expected to be completed next year, while the Kutchery Chowk remodeling project will be completed before the deadline and relief will be provided to the citizens as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2025