The Punjab Communication and Works Department is preparing to open the Rs19 billion Kutchery Chowk remodelling project to the public in the final week of May, with 92% of the construction already finished. Originally slated as an 18-month undertaking, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has fast-tracked the project, achieving near-completion in just six months since work began in November.
Project Scope and Traffic Management
The remodelling includes a sophisticated network of flyovers and underpasses designed to accommodate over 250,000 vehicles daily:
-
Flyovers: A four-lane flyover connects The Mall to Rashid Minhas Road, while an additional flyover serves the route between Mushtaq Baig Shaheed Road and the old Airport Road.
-
Underpasses: The project features three distinct underpasses, including a 26.5-foot-wide passage from the old Airport Road to Saddar and a dedicated two-lane underpass from Iftikhar Janjua Road to Kutchery Chowk.
-
Pedestrian & Aesthetic Features: Final touches are being applied to a new pedestrian bridge, drainage systems, and extensive green belts curated by the Parks and Horticulture Agency.
Next Phase: Peshawar Road Underpasses
Upon the successful opening of Kutchery Chowk, the focus will shift immediately to a second major infrastructure project on Peshawar Road:
-
Investment: An Rs8 billion scheme involving the construction of three new underpasses.
-
Timeline: Excavation is scheduled to begin in June, following the completion of utility service shifting.
-
Capacity: This phase aims to streamline the flow for the 250,736 vehicles that traverse the Peshawar Road section every day.
For quality assurance, monitoring teams from both the FWO and the Punjab Communication and Works Department have conducted material checks at every stage to ensure the durability of these critical transit corridors.
