The city of Rawalpindi is experiencing massive changes in its road networks as a part of the aim to create a signal free corridor. The latest project initiated by the Punjab Government is the construction of three underpasses on Peshawar Road. With a target to complete the project in a record time period to provide the public with a smooth traffic experience the construction has started with incomparable speed.

Underpass Construction at Peshawar Road Rawalpindi 

Rawalpindi has undergone considerable expansion in the previous few years making it among the top 5 most population cities of Pakistan. With this comes heavy traffic creating congestion at many convergent points. In dealing with this issue, the government has launched a project to develop underpasses at Peshawar Road. The construction has already started on three underpasses at Peshawar Road which is expected to cost around 8.36 billion rupees. 

The Three Underpasses 

The authorities evaluated the area to determine the main choke points which needed attention. In this process three main points were identified on which underpasses are being constructed. These points are:

1. Qasim Market Chowk: Being at the North of the project, it lies at the intersection of Qasim Market and Peshawar Road. The underpass will start from the Chowk adjacent to MH Hospital. This chowk often faces traffic jams due to excessive traffic coming from Saddar and Rawalpindi Cantonment.
2. Qabristan Chowk: This chowk is located close to the Army Graveyard and receives traffic from commercial and residential centers from the area which then moves towards the Race Course area.
3. Charing Cross Chowk: This chowk receives traffic from the commercial areas of Rawalpindi Cantonment and directs it towards the G.T. Road. It lies close to Westridge meaning it also receives  traffic from the residential areas as well.

Developer of Peshawar Road Underpasses 

The project is carried out as a joint collaboration of multiple government bodies. The following are the institutions involved:

1. Frontier Works Organization (FWO) will conduct the main development and execution.
2. Communications and Work (C&W) will provide the finance required.
3. Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) will carry out local feasibility studies for the project 
4. NESPAK will assist in design and plans
5. Rawalpindi Traffic Police will manage the traffic through alternative routes.

Budget for Peshawar Road Underpasses

The entire project is proposed to be completed in a total amount of 8.359 billion rupees which is a collective amount for all three underpasses. Each underpass has its own cost affected by the location, design and capital required. The cost breakdown of 8.5 billion rupees is as follows:

• Qasim Market Underpass: 3.09 billion rupees.
• Qabristan Underpass: 2.679 billion rupees 
• Charing Cross Underpass: 2.588 billion rupees 

Peshawar Road Underpasses Project Timeline 

The entire timeline of the project from its launch to its expected completion is given below:

• November 2025: The project of constructing three underpasseses on Peshawar Road was launched with a total budget of approx 7 billion rupees.

• December 2025: The project was initiated with technical studies carried out followed by concrete plants set-up and pile load testing.

• February 2026: The trees from the project areas were removed and relocated to other sites by RDA.

• March 2026: The infrastructure design and plan was reviewed by NESPAK. Electric, gas and telecom infrastructure was removed by relevant authorities.

• May 2026: The construction started at the three underpasses of Peshawar Road Rawalpindi with 80% utility transfer successfully completed.

• Aug-Sep 2026: The project is expected to be finished in a period of 3 months.

Traffic Management 

Peshawar Road, connecting to Mall Road and G.T Road, is a very busy route with thousands of vehicles daily passing through it. Construction on it can lead to total chaos. To avoid this the Traffic Police has provided a plan to direct traffic to other alternative routes while even during construction one lane will be open for traffic for the local residents to commute with ease.

Signal Free Corridor in Rawalpindi 

The underpass project of Peshawar Road is a part of the government’s signal free corridor to be created in Rawalpindi. The vision is to eliminate any traffic signals in the corridor to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted traffic flow by reducing traffic choke points and bottlenecks. Before the Peshawar Road project Kacheri Chowk and Mall Road Saddar have also undergone infrastructure development to modernize the city's urban layout.

Kacheri Chowk 

On May 10, Marka-e-Haq Square was inaugurated for the public after the Remodelling of Kacheri Chowk. With a budget of about 19 billion rupees the area received two pedestrian bridges, two flyovers and three underpasses to reduce the traffic at the intersection coming from Rawalpindi's residential, commercial and suburban areas as well as from Islamabad. This urban masterpiece is already providing benefits to the local public not only by reducing heavy traffic flows but also by providing safe pedestrian paths to which the direct beneficiaries are university students. 

Mall Road Saddar 

Mall Road at Saddar has also received two underpasses at GPO Chowk and ™ Chowk. The total cost of this project was only 5.736 billion rupees. These underpasses are helping in traffic management coming from busy commercial areas such as Saddar reducing travel time and travel cost.

The government of Punjab is on a mission to create a signal-free corridor in Rawalpindi. With this aim, construction at three Peshawar Road underpasses has started after the completion of Marka-e-Haq Square and GPO underpasses. The three underpasses will be developed in 3 months at Qabristan Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk and Charing Cross Chowk in a budget of 8.358 billion rupees. This project is expected to reduce traffic congestion at these points creating a better travel experience.