Rawalpindi Traders Reject Murree Road Expansion Plan

The Rawalpindi Traders Association has rejected a proposed road expansion project planned by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), warning that it would severely damage commercial activity along Murree Road.

The RDA has prepared a Rs. 9 billion project to widen Murree Road by adding an additional 10 to 15 feet on both sides from Liaquat Bagh to Chandni Chowk over a two-kilometer stretch. The plan requires the demolition of existing commercial structures and land acquisition to create space for the expansion.

Traders oppose the project, describing it as an economic blow that would eliminate a large portion of the commercial area along one of Rawalpindi’s busiest roads. The association argues that the proposal would directly affect businesses operating along this stretch.

Traffic congestion remains a persistent issue between Liaquat Bagh and Chandni Chowk due to narrow road width and illegal parking, which disrupts access to offices and educational institutions. In contrast, traffic flows more smoothly beyond Chandni Chowk toward Faizabad, where wider roads and flyovers exist.

During the Metro Bus project, authorities avoided large-scale land acquisition by constructing an elevated track from Saddar to Faizabad. However, the same two-kilometer stretch has again emerged as a major bottleneck.

The RDA plans to expand the road, including footpaths, subject to approval and funding from the Punjab government. If implemented, the project would remove or significantly reduce 70 to 80 percent of commercial properties along the corridor.