Rawalpindi signal-free corridor scaled back to two underpasses as costs climb
Rawalpindi signal-free corridor scaled back to two underpasses as costs climb
The number of underpasses planned under the Pindi signal-free corridor has been reduced from three to two, with the costs of the Race Course and Charing Cross underpasses revised upwards and the revised project now scheduled for completion by the end of November.
The proposed underpass at Army Graveyard Chowk has been dropped from the scheme. The revised project cost was approved at a meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP).
The revised numbers
The cost of the Race Course Underpass has increased by more than Rs1.36 billion, rising from Rs3.09 billion to Rs4.459 billion. The cost of the Charing Cross Underpass has also increased by more than Rs901.6 million, from Rs2.58 billion to Rs3.49 billion.
According to sources, the decision to remove the underpass at Army Graveyard Chowk from the project reduces the overall cost by Rs1.0842 billion. The combined picture is summarised below.
| Project component | Original cost | Revised cost | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race Course Underpass | Rs3.09 billion | Rs4.459 billion | Up Rs1.36 billion |
| Charing Cross Underpass | Rs2.58 billion | Rs3.49 billion | Up Rs901.6 million |
| Army Graveyard Chowk Underpass | Planned | Dropped | Down Rs1.0842 billion |
What replaces the third underpass
Army Graveyard Chowk has been linked to Peshawar Road through Double Road, while the chowk itself has been remodelled to improve traffic flow. According to C&W sources, abandoning the underpass at Graveyard Chowk has not only reduced the project cost but has also enabled the expansion of the intersection, providing signal-free right of way for traffic heading towards Peshawar.
In other words, the planners have traded a full underpass for a remodelled junction with a free right turn, which they say will keep Peshawar-bound traffic moving without signals.
The Pindi signal-free corridor takes shape
The corridor project sits on Peshawar Road, one of Rawalpindi’s main arteries and the principal route for traffic between the city and the motorway network. For daily commuters, the promise is a drive without signal stops through some of the city’s most congested junctions.
The pieces are falling into place in stages. Underpasses and flyovers at Kachehri Chowk, now known as Maarka-e-Haq Square, have been built, and underpasses at Saddar TMA Chowk and KPO Chowk were completed earlier. Once the Race Course and Charing Cross underpasses are finished, the corridor is expected to provide a signal-free run from Motorway Chowk to Chungi No 2.
That would connect the motorway interchange to the heart of the city’s commercial districts without a single traffic signal, a meaningful change for a road that carries heavy military, commercial and commuter traffic.
What happens next
The revised deadline is the end of November. With costs already revised upwards twice, attention will now turn to whether the remaining two underpasses finish on the new schedule without further overruns. The PDWP’s approval of the revised estimates removes the last administrative hurdle, so the pressure is now squarely on the contractors.
What is the Pindi signal-free corridor?
It is a road project along Rawalpindi’s Peshawar Road designed to let traffic move through major junctions without stopping at signals, using underpasses and flyovers at key chowks.
Why was the Army Graveyard Chowk underpass dropped?
Planners decided to remove it from the scheme, saving Rs1.0842 billion. The chowk has instead been linked to Peshawar Road through Double Road and remodelled, with a signal-free right of way provided for Peshawar-bound traffic.
How much have the remaining underpasses cost?
The Race Course Underpass now costs Rs4.459 billion, up from Rs3.09 billion, while the Charing Cross Underpass now costs Rs3.49 billion, up from Rs2.58 billion.
When will the corridor be complete?
The revised project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November.
Which junctions will be signal-free once it is done?
Completion of the Race Course and Charing Cross underpasses, together with the already built works at Kachehri Chowk (Maarka-e-Haq Square), Saddar TMA Chowk and KPO Chowk, will provide a signal-free corridor from Motorway Chowk to Chungi No 2.
