Shaheen Chowk sits between F-9 Park and the residential area, linking 9th Avenue, Service Road W, and feeders to Main Margalla Road.
Within a short radius are Air University (AU), Bahria University (BU) and National Defence University (NDU), thousands of daily trips that currently stack up at Shaheen Chowk traffic lights.
What the Underpass will fix for University going students
Built by the federal government, the Shaheen Chowk Underpass moves nonstop traffic below the surface so drivers on top can turn easily toward the universities and local streets. For students, that means:
- Shorter commutes at rush hours and after evening classes.
- Cleaner merges from Service Road E-9 and Service Road W.
- Fewer conflict points for walkers and cyclists moving to bus stops along 9th Avenue.
- More reliable travel times during exams, events and rain.
Major points related to Shaheen Chowk underpass construction project
- Project: Shaheen Chowk Underpass (at the junction where Service Road W/9th Ave interface with feeders to Main Margalla Rd and Air University).
- Purpose: Remove the bottleneck and keep through-traffic flowing between 9th Avenue and Main Margalla Road, while separating local movements from Air University and the residential streets (21–25).
- Event: PM Shehbaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking.
- Directive: Strong push on quality + aesthetics, with designs meant to “complement the beauty of Margalla Road.”
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi: credited CDA and contractors for execution.
- CDA (Capital Development Authority): Implementer.
- Contractors: Emphasis on workmanship and timely delivery.
Campus by Campus impact from Shaheen Chowk underpass
- Air University (AU): Immediate relief at Service Road E-9 to Service Road W where student peak hour cause long queues; easier north-south hops on 9th Avenue.
- Bahria University (BU): Faster east-west access to Main Margalla Road, cutting detours via congested neighbourhood streets.
- National Defence University (NDU): Smoother security friendly drop-offs and shuttle operations by separating local turns from fast through flows.
Safety, aesthetics, and student experience
Additionally, leaders have stressed international standard quality and design that “complements Margalla Road.”
For students, that translates to improved lighting, and sidewalks, small details that matter after night labs, tough classes, and long winter evenings.
Shaheen Chowk Underpass: a connected learning corridor
Meanwhile, the underpass arrives alongside wider city upgrades (flyovers, hospitality and convention facilities).
For Islamabad’s academic belt, the payoff is practical: tighter bus schedules, cheaper ride shares (less idle time), and campus-to-campus collaboration without the traffic stops.
In short, the Shaheen Chowk Underpass is more than a road project, it’s infrastructure for learning. Linking AU, BU, and NDU into a faster, safer, and more predictable commute network for students coming from distant areas.
