Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has laid the foundation stone for the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, a Rs. 1.4 billion infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The Kashmir Chowk junction currently handles around 107,000 vehicles, leading to frequent congestion, delays and traffic conflicts, particularly during peak hours. The new underpass is designed to provide smoother and more uninterrupted traffic movement while improving connectivity across the twin cities.
According to the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the project cost has been reduced from the initial estimate of Rs. 1.6 billion to Rs. 1.4 billion through cost optimisation. The project includes dedicated underpasses, four new slip roads and approximately five acres of additional land for expanded road infrastructure and related facilities.
The Kashmir Chowk Underpass will also be integrated with planned expressway lane expansions. Once the wider road network improvements are completed, the project is expected to help reduce travel time between Islamabad and Rawalpindi to around 16–18 minutes.
The government has set an ambitious target to complete the underpass within a record one month. Officials say the accelerated project is part of broader efforts to modernise Islamabad’s infrastructure, improve urban mobility and strengthen the city’s road network.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the importance of efficient transport infrastructure for economic growth, saying improved connectivity can save travel time, reduce fuel consumption and support commercial activity in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi also said the project forms part of a wider vision to develop Islamabad into a modern and world-class capital.
