Jhika Gali Chowk Upgrade Part of Murree Rs5.57 Billion Plan
Jhika Gali Chowk will get Rs4.06 billion for improvements as part of a Rs5.57 billion package for Murree that also funds a new 50-bed hospital in Bhurban.
Murree is a key beneficiary of Punjab’s new development package, receiving Rs5.57 billion for two projects. A 50-bed hospital in Bhurban has been approved at Rs1.507 billion, while Rs4.063 billion has been allocated for improving Jhika Gali Chowk in Murree.
The twin projects aim to strengthen both healthcare and road infrastructure in the hill station, a major tourist destination, ahead of peak travel seasons, ProPakistani reported.
What the Jhika Gali Chowk package covers
The package splits into two clear parts. The larger share, Rs4.063 billion, goes to Jhika Gali Chowk, one of the busiest junctions on the Murree road. The smaller share, Rs1.507 billion, funds the 50-bed hospital in Bhurban.
Jhika Gali sits on the main route into Murree town, where traffic from Rawalpindi and Islamabad meets local traffic and the flow of visitors heading for the Mall Road and the hotels beyond it. At peak times the junction slows to a crawl, and the improvement work is meant to ease that bottleneck.
The hospital fills a different gap. Murree’s residents and visitors now travel down to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for most hospital care, a journey that takes well over an hour on a winding hill road. A 50-bed facility in Bhurban puts hospital care within reach of the hill communities.
The Bhurban hospital in detail
The Bhurban hospital was approved alongside a children’s hospital in Rawalpindi as part of two hospital projects worth Rs11.65 billion. The Rawalpindi project, at Rs10.143 billion, is the larger of the two by far.
Bhurban is a small town in the Murree hills, known for its hotels and its golf course, and it sits above the main Murree road. A hospital there will serve the town itself and the villages scattered across the surrounding hills, where the nearest hospital is often an hour or more away by road.
The province has not yet announced start dates for either hospital. Those details usually follow once the schemes move from approval to tendering and contracting.
Why the road work matters before winter
Murree’s roads carry their heaviest load in the winter, when snowfall draws visitors from across Punjab and the rest of the country. The same hills that attract tourists also make driving hard: steep gradients, sharp bends and sudden weather changes.
The hill roads have seen serious accidents. A school bus overturned near Murree earlier this week, killing the driver and injuring 30 students and staff. That crash was a reminder of how unforgiving the hill roads can be when vehicles, weather and road conditions combine badly.
Winter weather already affects the region. Rain and snow have hit northern Pakistan in recent days, and snowfall has blocked the road to Babusar Top. Murree’s own administration has been drawing up plans to manage winter tourists, and the road works at Jhika Gali fit into that preparation.
Improving a single junction will not fix the whole hill road network, but junctions are where congestion starts. When traffic backs up at Jhika Gali, it backs up down the road behind it, and the queues stretch through the town.
Part of the same development package
The Murree package was approved at the 13th meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party on Friday, which cleared 19 schemes worth Rs126.67 billion. The same meeting approved the sewerage programme for 13 cities and Rs18.86 billion for the University of Technology in Rasul.
The completion of the Lillah-Jhelum dual carriageway after five years shows that Punjab can finish large road works when funding and supervision hold. The Jhika Gali work will be judged the same way: by whether the junction actually moves faster next winter.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Murree getting in the new package?
Murree will get Rs5.57 billion for two projects: Rs4.063 billion for Jhika Gali Chowk and Rs1.507 billion for a 50-bed hospital in Bhurban.
Where is Jhika Gali Chowk?
Jhika Gali Chowk is a busy junction on the main road into Murree town, where traffic from Rawalpindi and Islamabad meets local traffic heading for the Mall Road and the hotels beyond it.
What will the Bhurban hospital offer?
The 50-bed hospital will provide hospital care for Bhurban and the surrounding hill communities, who now travel to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for treatment.
When was the package approved?
It was approved at the 13th meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party on Friday, as part of the Rs126.7 billion provincial development package.
Why is the road work timed before winter?
Murree’s roads carry their heaviest traffic in winter, when snowfall draws visitors from across the country, and the administration has been preparing for the winter tourist season.
