Peshawar to Get Three New Underpasses Under Traffic Master Plan
The Peshawar Development Authority has been directed to prepare a comprehensive master plan to address traffic congestion and other urban challenges in the provincial capital. The plan includes construction of underpasses at three congested locations, along with two bridge expansions.
Adviser on Local Government, Communications and Works, Agriculture and Housing Asif Rafiq issued the directive during a meeting on Monday to review ongoing and proposed development projects. He called for timely completion of public welfare schemes and directed the authorities to take practical measures to improve traffic flow.
Officials presented proposals for the expansion of Hashtnagri Bridge, extension of Faqirabad Bridge up to Government College Chowk, and construction of underpasses at Ram Das Bazaar, Jail Chowk and Shoba Bazaar Chowk. The meeting also discussed a traffic management plan for Town Chowk on Khyber Road to ease congestion.
Peshawar underpasses: what was proposed
Rafiq directed the authority to assess the proposed projects on technical and practical grounds and prioritise schemes that could provide lasting solutions to traffic problems. He said underpasses and overhead bridges should be planned at traffic congestion points according to actual requirements, to reduce rush and ensure smooth movement of vehicles.
He also called for underpasses and overhead bridges at major congestion points based on actual requirements. The adviser further directed the authority to improve the city’s appearance along the motorway and GT Road through better travel facilities, plantation and flower cultivation.
The proposals are at the planning stage. No construction start date, completion date or project cost was given in the reporting examined, and the three underpasses should not be described as approved, funded or under construction. The directive is to prepare a master plan and assess priorities, which is the step before detailed design and funding decisions.
The Peshawar Development Authority director general briefed the adviser on ongoing development projects, traffic conditions and future infrastructure requirements. That briefing, rather than a single project announcement, is the source of the underpass and bridge proposals.
Why these three locations matter
Ram Das Bazaar, Jail Chowk and Shoba Bazaar Chowk are busy commercial and transit points in Peshawar, where shoppers, public transport and through traffic meet. Congestion at such junctions slows buses and private vehicles, raises travel time for commuters, and makes crossings harder for pedestrians.
An underpass can help at a junction by separating through traffic from turning traffic, but it is not a cure on its own. Drainage, lighting, pedestrian crossings, bus stops and maintenance all shape whether an underpass stays usable after it opens. The adviser’s instruction to assess projects on technical and practical grounds points to those questions, even though the reporting did not give answers for each site.
The bridge proposals follow the same logic. Expanding Hashtnagri Bridge and extending Faqirabad Bridge to Government College Chowk would widen bottlenecks that currently narrow traffic flow. A traffic management plan for Town Chowk on Khyber Road, a separate measure from construction, could ease pressure sooner, through signal timing, lane discipline and parking controls, if it is enforced.
Earlier underpass schemes reported on this site include the Kashmir Chowk underpass, as seen here: Kashmir Chowk Underpass 78 Percent Complete. The new Peshawar proposals should be judged against delivery on earlier schemes, not only against the announcement.
What happens next
The next step is the master plan itself, with technical assessments and a priority order for the underpasses and bridge works. Residents and commuters should watch for the plan’s publication, cost estimates and timelines, which will show whether the three underpasses move from proposal to project.
The plan comes as fog closed the M3 motorway between Faizpur and Jaranwala, KP’s polio drive covered 4.8 million children, and an audit flagged irregularities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the three proposed Peshawar underpasses?
At Ram Das Bazaar, Jail Chowk and Shoba Bazaar Chowk.
Which bridges are proposed for expansion?
Hashtnagri Bridge is proposed for expansion, and Faqirabad Bridge is proposed for extension up to Government College Chowk.
Who directed the master plan?
Adviser Asif Rafiq directed the Peshawar Development Authority to prepare a comprehensive master plan for traffic congestion and urban challenges.
Are the underpasses under construction?
No. They are proposals within a master plan directive, with technical assessment and prioritisation still to come. No start date or cost was given.
What else was discussed at the meeting?
A traffic management plan for Town Chowk on Khyber Road, and improvements to the city’s appearance along the motorway and GT Road.
