Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday formally inaugurated the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, opening to traffic a 500-metre underpass that the Capital Development Authority completed in just 27 days at a cost of Rs1.45 billion.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister congratulated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Capital Development Authority Chairman Sohail Ashraf, the project team and the contractor for finishing the work at what he called lightning speed, working day and night. He said he had rarely witnessed such rapid execution of a major infrastructure project in his political career, and credited the team for completing the underpass, the adjoining roads and extensive landscaping work within an exceptionally short period.
A 27-Day Build at One of the Capital’s Busiest Junctions
The Kashmir Chowk Underpass was launched in early October with a 30-day completion target set by the interior minister. The pace never slowed: by 31 October, 85 per cent of the work had been completed in 22 days, even though construction was suspended for two days because of heavy rain, according to the Capital Development Authority. The project finished three days ahead of its deadline.
The speed matters because of where the underpass sits. Kashmir Chowk is one of Islamabad’s busiest intersections, carrying around 107,000 vehicles a day, according to the Capital Development Authority, and linking traffic between Islamabad and Rawalpindi around Kashmir Chowk, Rawal Dam Chowk and the Serena Hotel area. Weeks of construction and diversions had squeezed that traffic through narrowed routes; the underpass restores normal movement through the junction.
What the Project Includes
The Kashmir Chowk Underpass is a 500-metre underpass with a four-kilometre road network built around it. Two monuments were also built at the site, and thousands of new trees were planted as part of the landscaping, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
The project cost Rs1.45 billion, which the prime minister said was 2.5 per cent less than the estimated cost. He added that the work had been completed with full transparency and in line with government procurement rules — a point he returned to at the ceremony, presenting the underpass as proof that public projects can be delivered quickly without inflating the bill.
Why It Matters for Islamabad
For commuters, the Kashmir Chowk Underpass should mean shorter, more predictable journeys through a junction that has long been a bottleneck. The underpass separates through-traffic from turning traffic, so vehicles heading straight through the chowk no longer have to wait at the signals that once held up the whole intersection.
The timing also looks ahead. The prime minister noted at the ceremony that Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conference in the capital next year, and that smooth traffic flow will help facilitate the event. The underpass is the latest in a series of fast-tracked capital projects driven by the interior minister’s push for quicker delivery of civic works, an approach officials have taken to calling “Mohsin Speed”.
What Happens Next
The Kashmir Chowk Underpass was opened to traffic immediately after the inauguration, so motorists using the junction should already be feeling the difference. The Capital Development Authority says the wider programme of road and civic improvements in the capital continues, with further projects targeted for completion before the end of the year.
For a city that has watched major roadworks drag on for months in the past, a 500-metre underpass delivered in 27 days sets a new benchmark — and the government will now be judged on whether the same pace can be repeated elsewhere.
Related Posts
Pakistan NewsPakistan and China Team Up to Protect Gandhara Relics as KP Digitises 10,000 Ancient Sculptures
Pakistan NewsPakpattan Bus Crash: 11 Killed, 33 Injured as Multan–Kasur Bus Collides With Truck on Depalpur Road
Pakistan NewsPAC Exposes Rs165.6 Million Embezzlement at Pakistan’s Embassy in Austria — FIA Summoned After Six Years Without Progress
Pakistan NewsPM Orders Cancellation of Petrol Pump Licences for Denying Subsidised Fuel Under Fuel Relief Programme
Pakistan NewsIslamabad Local Government Elections: Nomination Papers Close Today, Polling on 20 December
Pakistan NewsLahore Smog Worsens: AQI Hits 722 in Iqbal Town as Punjab Sends Out Road WashersMost Popular
How-ToPTA Tax Calculator 2026: Check Mobile Tax on Any Phone417 views
Pakistan NewsPIA Boeing 787 Lease Deal: What It Means for the Airline389 views
Canada JobsTech Jobs in Canada: Roles, Salaries, and Skills Needed387 views
SportsUEFA Champions League 2026-27: Format, Teams and Schedule384 views
TechnologyPM Shehbaz Sets November Deadline for Alibaba AI and Digitalisation Projects in Pakistan364 views
ShowbizWomen’s Fashion in Pakistan 2026: Trends, Brands and Style Guide360 views
