Rawalpindi to Get New Rs. 800 Million Underpass
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has planned the construction of a new underpass at Ninth Avenue Chowk on Karnal Sher Khan Road, a key route linking Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The authority has prepared the project at an estimated cost of Rs. 800 million and has sent it to the Punjab government for approval. Officials expect the underpass to ease chronic traffic congestion at one of the busiest entry and exit points between the twin cities.
According to project details, the underpass will measure about 1,600 feet in length and will be built 16 feet below the existing road level. While the current road width stands at 36 feet, the underpass will have a 24-foot-wide carriageway. The plan also includes the construction of a pumping house to manage rainwater drainage.
At present, a flyover at the junction allows signal-free movement toward Faizabad, but traffic traveling underneath the structure between Islamabad and Rawalpindi faces persistent congestion due to heavy traffic volume.
The junction serves as an alternative route after the Faizabad Flyover and remains congested for most of the day. Authorities consider making this intersection signal-free, critical for smoother traffic flow toward Double Road and Ninth Avenue.