Signal-free Mall Road to improve traffic flow
The Punjab government has decided to construct two additional underpasses on Mall Road in Rawalpindi to make it signal-free and smooth traffic flow.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday visited the ongoing GPO Underpass and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover projects on Mall Road to review progress and ensure smooth traffic flow in the city. She also interacted warmly with laborers, waving to them in appreciation.
During her unannounced inspection, the chief minister expressed satisfaction over the expected completion of the projects by October 31, and commended the engineers and workers involved in the development.
She directed that construction quality must be maintained without compromise and also ordered the plantation of trees on both sides of the roads.
On this occasion, PML-N MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman Akhtar, and other officials were also present.
According to project officials, this initiative is part of the largest development project in Rawalpindi's history, being completed in a record timeframe.
The Punjab Secretary of Communications and Works briefed the provincial chief executive on the technical details, informing her that the underpass would significantly ease road crossing for patients traveling to AFIC and MH Hospitals, and facilitate the daily movement of over 200,000 vehicles. In total, 26 kilometers of Mall Road will be made signal-free.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover, starting at Khawaja Corporation, is being built at a cost of Rs2.3 billion, while the underpass project is estimated at Rs4.38b. So far, 85% of the flyover and 60% of the underpass construction has been completed. The overhead bridge piles are fully installed, 56 girders have been prepared, and 32 have already been installed on the flyover. Work on seven drainage systems is ongoing, and the flyover's boundary wall has been completed.
Additionally, 2,093 piles and girders for the underpass at GPO Chowk have been completed, and a dedicated pedestrian pathway is also included in the project.
Once completed, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover will provide direct access to the Motorway and Rawalpindi Ring Road, benefiting approximately 79,000 vehicles daily.
According to the officials concerned, 56 development projects are currently underway in the Rawalpindi Division.
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