Residents of 11 union councils in Rawalpindi are expected to get relief from recurring urban flooding as work on a Rs1 billion underground sewerage trunk has been accelerated ahead of the monsoon season. The two-kilometre-long underground trunk will run from Asghar Mal Chowk through Jamia Masjid Road, Dangi Khoi Chowk and Ganj Mandi to Nullah Lai.
The project is aimed at improving the drainage of rainwater and sewage in some of the city’s densely populated areas, where heavy rainfall often leads to water accumulation on roads and streets. For residents, the project is expected to reduce the risk of rainwater entering neighbourhoods, improve the flow of stormwater and minimise disruption to traffic and daily life during heavy rains.
The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2027. Its extension will also cover the drainage of Model Raja Bazaar, allowing rainwater from the busy commercial area to be diverted into the underground trunk. The development is particularly significant for residents and businesses in the Asghar Mal Chowk-to-Ganj Mandi corridor, which frequently faces drainage challenges during the monsoon. It has also been decided to include the drainage system of Model Raja Bazaar in the project as part of its extension.
According to details, an underground grand sewerage trunk has been constructed from Nullah Lai near Ganj Mandi Police Station to protect the aforementioned areas from flooding. The trunk is large enough for even a tractor to pass through. Construction work has so far reached Tire Bazaar and will be extended from Dangi Khoi Chowk to Jamia Masjid Road.
Under the project being executed by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), rainwater entering Model Raja Bazaar will also be diverted into the underground grand sewerage trunk. This is expected to prevent rainwater from accumulating on roads and entering streets and neighbourhoods during the monsoon, particularly in the area from Asghar Mal Chowk to Ganj Mandi Police Station. Work on the project began in April this year. WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said the project had been designed according to the ground conditions to ensure the efficient drainage of rainwater and normal sewage from eleven union councils into the underground grand sewerage trunk.