RAWALPINDI: Murree Road from Islamabad to Murree has been closed to traffic due to reconstruction work worth Rs3 billion, while the diversion of all traffic to the Murree Expressway has created difficulties for commuters.

The Murree district administration closed the main road for reconstruction work at the request of the Punjab Highway Department.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that reconstruction work worth Rs3bn was being carried out on Murree Road from Satra Meel to Sunny Bank. He said the Murree district administration had closed this section for all kinds of traffic until next month.

He said a traffic plan had been devised for people travelling to Murree via the Murree Expressway. He added that it was a tricky project as more than eight difficult points had to be reconstructed, and traffic movement would create hurdles in the work.

On the other hand, local residents said there was heavy rush on the Murree Expressway, while people living along Murree Road were facing difficulties in travelling to Murree and Rawalpindi for work.

Muhammad Afsar Abbasi, a resident of Chattar, said there were problems in the movement of people. He said the administration should complete one side of the road first and then start work on the other half so that traffic could continue moving.

Farzand Ali, a resident of Ghora Gali, said travelling on Murree Road had become difficult due to the construction work and that it would create problems for visitors coming to the hill station during the Eid holidays.

He said most locals now travelled via the Murree Expressway to reach their villages and homes, which consumed more fuel and time. He said the government should make a proper plan instead of closing the main road. He added that heavy rush was being witnessed on the Murree Expressway due to the closure.

When contacted, Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi said the road had been closed for construction work and traffic had been diverted to the Murree Expressway so that contractors could complete the work by the end of June.

However, he said the road had been opened for locals living in adjoining villages so they could reach their homes without any hurdle. He said the closure of this section was necessary as more than eight complicated turns had to be widened.

He said once the construction work was completed, the road would be reopened for traffic. He added that the administration had made arrangements for visitors during the current summer season and Eid holidays and would manage the traffic rush on the Murree Expressway effectively.

He said a special plan had been devised for visitors and that the administration and local traffic police would enforce it next week.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026