The Punjab government has begun a massive infrastructure initiative worth over Rs13.33 billion to ease Rawalpindi’s worsening traffic congestion. The project includes the construction of three underpasses and two flyovers at Katchery Chowk, Jinnah Park (Annexy Chowk) on Airport Road, and Iftikhar Janjua Chowk on G.T. Road.
Approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), the plan aims to improve traffic flow for the 482,000 vehicles that move through the city every day. The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has started initial work, including piling tests near Fatima Jinnah Women University and the district courts.
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At Katchery Chowk, where traffic volumes reach 200,000 vehicles daily, the government is building a 1,394-foot underpass to link Jinnah Park with Saddar and a four-lane divided flyover. The project also includes 2.97 kilometers of slip road upgrades and 24.2 kanals of land acquisition.
The Jinnah Park (Annexy Chowk) section features a 1,263-foot underpass connecting to Mushtaq Baig Shaheed Road and a 1,509-foot two-lane flyover toward Airport Road. This phase covers 2.22 kilometers of road rehabilitation and 5.95 kanals of acquired land.
At Iftikhar Janjua Chowk, which sees 146,000 vehicles daily, construction will include a 1,165-foot underpass and 1.56 kilometers of surface road upgrades, requiring 4.28 kanals of land.
Executive Engineer Rana Qamar Ali said the government has already paid Rs1.5 billion for land around Katchery Chowk. Once complete, the project will transform Rawalpindi’s road network, cutting congestion and improving connectivity across the city.
