Rs 33 billion road revolution: Rawalpindi goes signal-free with flyovers and underpasses

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After decades of traffic congestion and daily gridlock, Rawalpindi’s road revolution is finally making progress. A massive infrastructure drive, backed by a Rs 33 billion development package, is intended to transform the city into a largely signal-free urban corridor. It is  offering much-needed relief to millions of commuters.

City officials are saying that the scale and pace of work mark one of the most ambitious road overhauls in Rawalpindi’s history.

Signal-free corridors reshape Rawalpindi’s busiest junctions

As per Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak, work on major infrastructure schemes is on track. Moreover, the project is focusing on long-standing choke points such as

• Kachehri Chowk
• Jinnah Park
• Iftikhar Janjua Road
• Annexe Road
• Ammar Chowk, where congestion has disrupted daily life for years.

The plan includes multiple flyovers, underpasses, and redesigned intersections, all which were meant to

• Improve traffic flow
• Reduce travel time across the city.

Peshawar Road underpasses drive urban connectivity

At the heart of Rawalpindi’s road transformation exists Peshawar Road, which is the busiest artery of the city. Three major underpasses present at Race Course Ground, Army Graveyard Road, and Charing Cross are going to create a continuous signal-free stretch from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway entrance at Chungi No 26.

These projects are an integral part of the 2025–26 Annual Development Programme, and it will benefit nearly two million residents and hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.

Punjab Highways EXEN Rana Qamar Ali confirmed that all three underpasses are scheduled for completion by June next year, converting Peshawar Road into a seamless traffic corridor.

Parking plazas and junction remodelling ease urban pressure

Beyond roads, authorities are also addressing Rawalpindi’s parking crisis. A Rs1.6 billion parking plaza is under construction at Jinnah Park. Moreover, in Saddar and Cantonment areas, five more parking sites identified.

Major allocations include Kachehri Chowk, Annexe Chowk, and Iftikhar Janjua Chowk, with Kachehri Chowk’s remodelling expected to finish by May 31 next year.

Read More: City and cantonment roads in Rawalpindi set for massive Rs 35.28 billion upgrade

Earlier projects such as the GPO Underpass on Mall Road and TM Chowk remodelling are already reducing traffic congestion. Meanwhile, the Nawaz Sharif Flyover on Adiala Road has transformed a previously disrupted route into a smooth and uninterrupted connection toward the under-construction Ring Road, making daily travel easier for commuters.

Rawalpindi Ring Road anchors long-term mobility vision

The broader vision centres on the Rawalpindi Ring Road, a 38-kilometre project featuring

• Multiple interchanges
• Bridges
• Underpasses. Once completed, it is going to unlock economic growth, ease urban congestion, and redefine mobility across the region.

Despite lingering concerns over Murree Road bottlenecks, the coordinated push is signaling a turning point. If timelines hold, Rawalpindi may finally move from gridlock to flow—reshaping daily life for its citizens.