RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government will construct an underpass for Rs4.6 billion at the GPO to ease traffic congestion at one of the busiest intersections on The Mall in the garrison city.

The Communication and Works Department of the provincial government sent PC-I of the project to the Punjab government for its final approval. A senior official at the Communication and Works Department told Dawn that the government asked the department for PC-I to start the project. For PC-I, the department conducted a survey of the area and found out that 193,000 vehicles pass through this intersection every day.

“Basically, this project is a part of the signal-free corridor from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway Chowk,” he said, adding that the Punjab government decided to execute this project in phases. According to the initial plan, the corridor will be constructed from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway Chowk, and five underpasses and one flyover will be constructed, he added.

He said underpasses will be constructed on The Mall in front of the Pearl Continental Hotel, General Post Office Chowk, and Military Hospital Chowk. A flyover will be constructed at Qasim Market on Peshawar Road, he said, adding that U-turns would also be constructed in different areas.

Official says PC-I sent to planning department for approval; more underpasses to follow

He said that the project would provide an opportunity for travellers from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to reach New Islamabad Airport via the motorway, adding that a new bus service would be launched for the airport to facilitate the residents of the cantonment areas.

He said that the Rawalpindi Development Authority would also construct a flyover at Ammar Chowk and after completion of both projects, the traffic flow on The Mall, Peshawar Road, Old Airport Road, and G.T. Road would be eased. Another senior official said that the additional flyover would be constructed at Ammar Chowk after clearance from the garrison authorities.

The flyover was initially added to the Ammar Chowk remodelling project, but the idea was later dropped. Now the government has decided to retake the project.

He said that an underpass had already been constructed at Golra Morr by the National Highway Authority under the Peshawar Road expansion project.

According to the official, the construction of the Pearl Continental Hotel and Military Hospital Chowk underpasses, as well as the flyover at Qasim Market, will make Peshawar Road a signal-free road. When contacted, Rao Tahir, executive engineer at the Communication and Works Department, said the project was sent to the Punjab Planning and Development Board for approval.

He said that after getting a green signal from the Punjab government, the work would be started, adding that it was an important project and would improve the traffic flow in the cantonment areas. He said that Peshawar Road would be made a signal-free corridor and the government was planning to build more underpasses on The Mall after this project.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024