Rawalpindi is Getting Five New Flyovers and Underpasses

The Punjab government has launched a mega infrastructure project involving the construction of three underpasses and two flyovers to tackle severe traffic congestion at Katchery Chowk, Jinnah Park (Annexy Chowk) on Airport Road, and Iftikhar Janjua Chowk on G.T. Road.

The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has collectively approved the projects, which carry a combined estimated cost of over Rs. 13.33 billion. According to official documents received by APP, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) is executing the projects.

Initial work, including piling tests, has already begun near Fatima Jinnah Women University and the district courts. These projects aim to streamline traffic flow for the 482,000 vehicles that navigate the city’s roads daily.

At the core of the initiative is the Katchery Chowk project, which currently handles around 200,000 vehicles per day. The Rs. 5.97 billion plan includes a 1,394-foot underpass for Saddar-bound traffic from Jinnah Park and a four-lane divided flyover. Additionally, 2.97 kilometers of slip roads will be rehabilitated. Land acquisition for this section totals 24.2 kanals.

The Jinnah Park project will include a 1,263-foot underpass for Mushtaq Baig Shaheed Road-bound traffic and a 1,509-foot flyover toward Airport Road. Over 2.22 kilometers of at-grade road will also be upgraded, with 5.95 kanals of land acquired.

At Iftikhar Janjua Chowk, which sees around 146,000 vehicles daily, a 1,165-foot underpass and 1.56-kilometer at-grade rehabilitation are planned, requiring 4.28 kanals of land.

Executive Engineer Rana Qamar Ali told APP that Rs. 1.5 billion has already been paid for land acquisition around Katchery Chowk. Once completed, the projects are expected to transform Rawalpindi’s traffic landscape by improving connectivity and reducing daily gridlocks.