Islamabad Closes Rawal Dam Chowk–Kashmir Chowk Road Until Further Notice
The Rawal Dam Chowk road closure is now in force. The Islamabad Traffic Police has shut the road between Rawal Dam Chowk and Kashmir Chowk from October 15, 2026, until further notice, and has directed motorists to use the alternate routes it has announced.
The closure cuts a busy link used every day by commuters travelling between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It also affects traffic heading toward Park Road, Lehtrar Road, Murree and Bhara Kahu. Traffic officers will be posted at the diversion points to guide motorists, the police said.
Rawal Dam Chowk Road Closure: Alternate Routes
Commuters travelling from G-5, the Secretariat and Serena Hotel toward Rawalpindi should take Srinagar Highway and Ninth Avenue. They can also travel via Srinagar Highway, Mehrabad and Peshawar Road.
Those heading toward Rawal Dam Chowk, Park Road and Lehtrar Road should use Srinagar Highway, Seventh Avenue, Shakarparian Road, Tulip Hotel Road and Rawal Dam Road.
People travelling to Murree and Bhara Kahu can take Faizabad, Faisal Avenue, Zero Point, Srinagar Highway and the Jinnah Square Underpass. Motorists entering Islamabad from Rawalpindi should use Ninth Avenue, Faqir Aipee Road and Srinagar Highway, while traffic coming from Park Road and Lehtrar Road toward Islamabad can use Tulip Hotel Road, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian Road and Seventh Avenue.
Rawalpindi’s commuters are used to diversions: the city’s signal-free corridor plan was recently scaled back to two underpasses as costs climbed.
Why the Road Is Closed
The police has not given a reason for the closure. The announcement follows weeks of construction-related diversions around Kashmir Chowk. Earlier this month, work began on the Rs1.4 billion Kashmir Chowk Underpass after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone, with the Capital Development Authority targeting completion within one month, according to PakWheels. The traffic police had already issued diversions for the same area on October 6 while construction continued.
For commuters, that timeline matters. A one-month construction window suggests the “until further notice” closure could run into mid-November, and the alternate routes will carry the extra load for weeks. Underpass projects can finish quickly when they stay on schedule. The Rs1.6 billion Hayatabad Underpass in Peshawar opened after 90 days, though the CDA’s wider development drive in the capital means several projects are competing for the same roads.
What Commuters Should Do
The traffic police has warned that the alternate routes will face congestion, particularly during morning and evening rush hours. It has advised motorists to leave home 20 to 25 minutes earlier than usual.
Drivers should follow the instructions of officers posted at diversion points. The police will share live updates on its FM 92.4 radio service and its official social media pages. Commuters should check those channels before leaving, since no end date has been announced.
FAQs
Which road is closed in Islamabad?
The road between Rawal Dam Chowk and Kashmir Chowk is closed from October 15, 2026, until further notice, according to the Islamabad Traffic Police.
What are the alternate routes toward Rawalpindi?
Motorists travelling from G-5, the Secretariat and Serena Hotel can use Srinagar Highway and Ninth Avenue, or Srinagar Highway via Mehrabad and Peshawar Road.
How do I reach Murree and Bhara Kahu during the closure?
Use Faizabad, Faisal Avenue, Zero Point, Srinagar Highway and the Jinnah Square Underpass.
Where can I find live traffic updates?
The Islamabad Traffic Police shares updates on FM 92.4 and its official social media pages.
