The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has revealed that the city’s main artery, Murree Road, is set for a significant expansion, with plans to widen it by 15 feet on each side.
RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza shared the details during a press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, held at the start of the New Year, with senior officials, including Chief Engineer Anwar Baran and Director Planning Tahir Mayo.
She said the widening of Murree Road is part of a broader effort to reduce chronic traffic jams and prepare the city’s road network for increased load once the Ring Road becomes operational.
By adding a total of 30 feet of extra width, the RDA expects to create more room for vehicles, improve traffic flow, and make it easier to integrate future public transport options.
The expansion of Murree Road will complement other mobility initiatives, such as the successful green electric bus project, for which the RDA has requested additional vehicles from the Punjab chief minister.
Murtaza also pointed out that Rawalpindi still does not have a formal master plan, calling it a serious issue for long‑term urban management. She stressed that road widening alone is not enough and that a comprehensive planning framework is required to guide future growth, zoning, and infrastructure.
In parallel with the Murree Road expansion, the RDA is tightening regulation of the housing sector. The DG said that QR codes have been introduced for private housing schemes so residents can verify their authenticity and avoid fraud.
In addition, approval of residential building plans is now conditional on planting a specified number of trees, and all applications for building maps or commercialization must be filed through an e-system, as manual submissions have been scrapped.
Murtaza further noted that the authority is seeking funds for a major study of Nullah Leh, including its flood channel and possible alternate routes, and is working with NAB and FIA on the long-running University Town case.