By Rawalpindi’s long-awaited infrastructure transformation is rapidly taking shape as work on the city’s fully signal-free corridor reaches a critical construction phase. According to The Express Tribune, the ambitious project—being executed under the supervision of the Punjab government—has achieved a major breakthrough with the successful casting of the first full-deck slab on the 567-metre Iftikhar Janjua Underpass. This development marks the corridor’s first completely roofed structure and signals accelerated progress across the project.
The signal-free corridor is designed to significantly ease traffic congestion by ensuring uninterrupted vehicle movement between key arteries, including the Islamabad Expressway, GT Road, and Peshawar Road. Once completed, the corridor is expected to transform daily commuting patterns for thousands of motorists who currently face chronic delays at major junctions.
Rapid Progress at Key Junctions
Construction activity is intensifying at all five major junctions included in the project, with several sections advancing simultaneously:
- Kachehri Chowk: Work on the 878-metre flyover has reached an important stage, with all 101 foundation piles completed. Pile cap casting and pier shaft reinforcement are continuing round the clock to maintain momentum.
- Jinnah Park: At this critical junction, all 24 piles for the flyover have been completed, and steel fixing is currently underway to prepare for the next construction phase.
- Citywide Progress: Across Rawalpindi, 648 out of 840 piles have already been completed, demonstrating steady advancement on underpasses and flyovers throughout the corridor.
Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer of the Punjab Highways Department, stated that the completion of the first full-deck slab, along with more than 70 percent of the girders for the longest flyover, has pushed the project into what he described as a “high-gear phase.”
Transforming Rawalpindi’s Traffic Flow
Approved at a cost exceeding Rs13.334 billion, the signal-free corridor project aims to eliminate long-standing traffic bottlenecks at congestion-prone areas such as Kachehri Chowk and Jinnah Park. The project is expected to drastically reduce travel times, improve road safety, and support smoother connectivity between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Urban planners believe that the corridor will not only enhance mobility but also contribute to economic efficiency by reducing fuel consumption and travel delays. With construction progressing swiftly, commuters can look forward to a significantly improved traffic system that aligns with modern urban transport standards.
