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Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Key infrastructure projects face delays
Two major signal-free road infrastructure projects in Rawalpindi, worth over Rs6.5 billion, have missed their completion deadlines, causing significant inconvenience to residents. These include the Nawaz Sharif Flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk on Adiala Road and underpasses on Mall Road at KTM Chowk, Mall Plaza, and the pedestrian underpass at Medicine Market. While the flyover at Khawaja Corporation Chowk has been completed, carpeting and beautification work remains pending. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had set a deadline of May 31 for its completion, but the project remains unfinished. This project alone costs Rs2.3 billion. Similarly, the Rs4.38 billion underpasses and pedestrian underpass project on Mall Road, originally set for completion in 45 days, remains incomplete even after 100 days. As a result, access to key locations including hospitals, the Mega Medicine Market, PIA, State Life, and Cantonment offices has been disrupted. Zahid Bakhtawari, President of Anjuman Shehriyan Rawalpindi, criticised the delay, sayinag the situation has become unbearable for patients and businesses. Promises made to complete the work in 45 days have not been fulfilled. PML-N MNA from Cantt, Malik Abrar Ahmed, stated efforts are ongoing to prevent further delays. He emphasized that in high-level meetings, authorities have been directed to speed up the work. If both projects are completed within the next 15 days, a joint inauguration could be held, pending the Chief Minister's schedule. While C\&W Department officials had earlier confirmed the May 31 deadline, they are now unwilling to comment on the delay.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pindi's development projects: CM Maryam expresses satisfaction
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif reached Rawalpindi city, visited various ongoing development projects and expressed happiness over the expected completion of the biggest project in the history of Rawalpindi by May 31. She visited the Rawalpindi GPO Underpass and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover Project. The Chief Minister reviewed construction quality of the project and also inspected ongoing construction activities. She responded to the enthusiasm of the workers working on the project by waving her hand. She directed to ensure construction quality in the project under any circumstance and directed to plant two trees on the dual sides of the roads. Two more underpasses will be built to make Rawalpindi's Mall Road signal-free. Two lakh vehicles will be able to easily pass through the underpass on a daily basis. The construction of the underpass will make it easier for AFIC and MH patients to cross the road. The Mall Road will be made signal-free for 26 kilometers. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover will be completed at a cost of Rs2.3 billion and the underpass project will be completed at a cost of Rs4.38 billion. The construction work of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover project has been completed by 85 percent and the construction of the underpass project has been completed by 60 percent. Secretary C&W gave a detailed briefing about the ongoing project. It was informed in the briefing that installation of piles of the overhead bridge of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover project has been completed. 56 girders of the flyover have been prepared, 32 girders have been installed on the flyover. The construction work of 7 drains of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover is ongoing and boundary wall of the flyover has also been completed. The Chief Minister also reviewed construction activities of the underpass at Mall Road GPO Chowk. The construction of 2093 piles and girders of the underpass has been completed. A special path for pedestrians has also been included in the project. Construction work is underway on 56 development projects in Rawalpindi Division. The completion of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover will enable citizens to have direct access to the motorway and Rawalpindi Ring Road. 79,000 vehicles will benefit after the completion of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Flyover. Member of National Assembly Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman Akhtar and other senior officials were also present. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Underpass projects on Mall Road see 60% work
The Cantonment Board Rawalpindi has mounted a huge clock at Telegraph Chowk, Mall Road. Photo: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS Construction work on two underpasses and an underground pedestrian route along Rawalpindi's Mall Road has reached 60 per cent completion, with traffic expected to resume on the corridor by June. Launched in mid-February 2025 under the supervision of Punjab's Communication and Works (C&W) Department, the projectexecuted by NESPAK and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO)aims to create signal-free passage between TM Chowk and Mall Plaza Chowk, along with a pedestrian tunnel between Medicine Market and the AFIC-Cantonment Board Office. The cost of this segment stands at Rs4.38 billion. Officials from C&W Department state that the work is progressing rapidly, with efforts underway to wrap up construction by the end of June 2025. Once completed, these areas will see uninterrupted traffic flow, including adjustments at Shalimar Chowk to facilitate signal-free movement. Meanwhile, the PC-1 for a major extensionflyovers and additional underpasses at the congested Kutchery Chowkis in its final planning phase. The project is expected to cost between Rs8 to 8.5 billion and has been included in Punjab's Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 202526 fiscal year. Funding approval will pave the way for awarding construction contracts. Efforts are also underway to include the proposed Rs1.5 billion Qasim Market Underpass project in the upcoming ADP. The Qasim Market junction currently sees severe congestion, with vehicle queues often stretching up to half a kilometre during peak hours. Currently, round-the-clock work is ongoing with a target to complete the ongoing phase within four and a half months.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pindi completes first phase of cabling project
The first phase of the Saddar Underground Cabling and Beautification project has been completed and the second phase is now in planning. A funding request of Rs1.5 billion has been submitted to the Military Lands and Cantonments Department (MLCD) and the Ministry of Defence for approval. According to sources, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has been executing the project in two phases over the past year to transform the entire Saddar commercial area. The first phase, completed at a cost of Rs1.2 billion, has turned Bank Road into a European-style pedestrian street, attracting significant public attention. The area now features enhanced cleanliness, decorative tiles, stylish seating benches, modern lighting, wide footpaths, uniform shop signage, executive washrooms, model food kiosks, and a free electric shuttle service. The second phase, estimated to cost Rs1.5 billion, will extend the underground electrification and beautification work to Adamjee Road, Kashmir Road, Murree Road, Saddar Haathi Chowk, Hospital Road, Babu Mohalla, Chhota Bazaar, Kabari Bazaar, Coal Centre, Police Station Road, Railway Road, and adjacent markets. The planning has been completed under the supervision of former RCB Chief Engineer Abdul Rahim Sheikh and Senior Engineer Abdul Samad Khan. However, due to the extensive coverage area, phase two is expected to take over a year to complete, though efforts will be made to minimise the timeline. RCB spokesperson Rasheed Saqib stated that work on phase two will commence as soon as the funds are approved and disbursed. The Rs1.5 billion funding request has been forwarded to MLCD, which will further process it through the Ministry of Defence and the Punjab Government. Once completed, this phase will uplift the facades of commercial buildings in Saddar, giving the area a modernised look with improved facilities. Additionally, plans are underway for underground pedestrian crossings at TM Chowk and Mall Plaza Chowk, a signal-free fish-belly U-turn at Shalimar Chowk, and an underground pedestrian street between AFIC and Medicine Market. This project, with an estimated cost of Rs4.38 billion, is already in progress and is expected to be completed within three to four months.
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mall Road upgrade project kicks off
The Cantonment Board Rawalpindi has mounted a huge clock at Telegraph Chowk, Mall Road. Photo: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS Authorities have launched an infrastructure upgrade on Rawalpindi's Mall Road, aiming to make key intersections signal-free and improve traffic flow. Work has officially begun with the closure of Mall Road for traffic at TM Chowk, Mall Plaza Chowk, and Five Star Hotel Chowk. The project involves the construction of a fish-belly U-turn and an underpass pedestrian walkway between Medicine Market and AFIC. The Communication and Works Department (C&W), the executing agency, has assigned the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) a completion deadline of three to four months. Additionally, plans are underway to include the construction of an underpass at the highly congested Qasim Market Chowk in Punjab's Annual Development Program (ADP). The Punjab government has allocated Rs4.38 billion for the Mall Road Infrastructure Upgradation Project. The project is being overseen by NESPAK Private Limited as a consultant, with the FWO handling construction. To ensure swift completion, authorities have decided to continue work round the clock. Once completed, the project will eliminate three traffic signalsat Five Star Hotel Chowk, TM Chowk, and Mall Plaza Chowkimproving traffic flow. However, four key signals at MH Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk, Racecourse Chowk, and Charing Cross Chowk will remain operational, with Qasim Market Chowk expected to face the heaviest congestion. To address this, an underpass at Qasim Market Chowk has been proposed for the next fiscal year's ADP. A senior C&W official confirmed the proposal's inclusion. Due to ongoing construction, traffic from Peshawar Road has been rerouted through Qasim Market Chowk to Kacheri Chowk. Additional diversions have been put in place at MH Chowk. The Punjab government has already released the first instalment of Rs200 million for the project, with the remaining funds to be disbursed in phases. Currently, eight traffic signals are operational between Kacheri Chowk and Charing Cross on Mall Road, causing severe congestion. The planned removal of three of these signals is expected to ease some of the burden, though Qasim Market Chowk is projected to experience higher congestion until its underpass is completed. Rawalpindi's Mall Road is one of the busiest routes, catering to traffic from multiple entry points, including Saddar, Murree Road, Railway Station, RA Bazaar, Tench Bhatta, Abid Majeed Road, Range Road, Westridge-III, Chohar Misyari Road, and Kacheri Chowk. The excessive traffic load, combined with an overburdened signal system, often results in long queues, with drivers frequently running red lights out of frustration. Authorities hope the project will provide long-term relief to the city's growing traffic woes, though challenges remain, particularly at Qasim Market Chowk.
