Construction has begun on two major underpass projects on Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi as authorities work to ease traffic congestion and create a wider signal-free corridor.
The Rs8 billion project, being carried out by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), includes underpasses at Race Course Park and Charing Cross.
The officials said that the work will be completed within two to three months, with the project targeted for completion before the end of the year.
Unlike some previous road projects, traffic will not be completely stopped during construction. Dedicated service roads have been built to keep vehicles moving, although commuters may face delays around the construction sites, particularly during peak hours.
Authorities say utility relocation work, including electricity pylons, water pipes and telecommunications cables, has already been completed to allow construction to proceed.
The underpasses are part of a planned 25-kilometre signal-free corridor connecting the Islamabad Expressway with Motorway Chowk along Peshawar Road.
Once completed, the wider project is expected to reduce travel times between the two points to around 15 to 20 minutes.
Drivers have been advised to allow extra time for journeys and consider alternative routes through Westridge and nearby roads during busy periods.
Rawalpindi Ring Road Project faces another delay
The multi-billion-rupee, 38.6-kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road project has hit another delay, putting the August 14 inauguration deadline in doubt.
According to sources, construction work on the main route of the Ring Road has been completed, but the project remains stalled due to a dispute over the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the service area.
The Lahore High Court is scheduled to hear the NOC case of the 102-kanal and 14-marla service area on July 16. Sources said the final decision regarding the project’s inauguration is now likely to depend on the court’s proceedings.
Reports indicate that six inauguration deadlines for the Ring Road project have already passed, but the project has yet to be opened to the public.
Five officials, including the former commissioner and former deputy commissioner, have already been removed from their positions in connection with the service area NOC controversy. The new Rawalpindi administration is awaiting the court’s decision and the findings of the inquiry report.
Earlier, it was stated that the multi-billion-rupee, 38.6-kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road project has entered its final phase, with its official inauguration expected on August 14. Now the inauguration deadline is again facing uncertainty.
Once operational, the Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion within the city, and provide a direct link between GT Road and the motorway network, facilitating smoother movement of commuters and commercial traffic.
The project includes five major interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala, Chakri, and Thallian. Although the road itself is complete, some finishing work remains, including the completion of eight toll plazas and 28 toll booths across the five interchanges, as well as renovation and landscaping at several locations.
