Opening Date Revealed for Islamabad’s Nightmare Underpass

The Margalla Enclave underpass on Islamabad’s Park Road, which has turned daily commuting into a nightmare for thousands of motorists, is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by July 30, 2026.

The project is being built by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to reduce congestion in Zone-IV and improve connectivity for major housing areas including DHA Margalla Enclave, Park View City, and Bahria Enclave.

But while the underpass is being pitched as a long-term solution, its construction has created severe traffic problems in the meantime.

Initial site preparations and traffic diversions for the project began in late January 2026, while regular construction work formally started in March 2026.

According to official updates presented to the Senate, the underpass portion is on track for completion in July 2026, with the wider surrounding infrastructure package expected to be wrapped up by August 2026.

During construction, Park Road has remained under heavy traffic pressure, with commuters being advised to factor in an additional 20 to 30 minutes of travel time. The route is critical for residents of Chak Shahzad, Shahzad Town, Park Enclave, Park View City, and nearby localities, while also serving traffic linked to schools, universities, offices, and commercial areas.

Residents and commuters have repeatedly complained about poor traffic management around the site. Temporary diversions have been described as narrow, uneven, dusty, and badly maintained, with insufficient signage, weak lane markings, and limited traffic control at key points.

The problems become worse after rain, when water, mud, and construction material collect on the makeshift routes. Motorists have also raised concerns over vehicle damage caused by rough surfaces, while motorcyclists continue to face unsafe and dusty conditions.

The underpass is part of the wider Rs. 10 billion Park Road infrastructure project, which also includes service roads, overhead infrastructure, and other road upgrades.

While the project is expected to eventually improve traffic flow, commuters still have to endure daily congestion until the underpass opens at the end of July.