The completion date for the significant traffic restructuring project at Kutchery Chowk in Rawalpindi has been postponed to the end of May following a substantial increase in costs. The project’s budget has escalated from Rs14 billion to Rs19 billion, leading authorities to revise the timeline and submit an updated PC-I for approval.
Initially planned to be finished by April 30, the deadline was first extended to mid-May and has now been pushed further to the month’s end, as several parts of the project remain incomplete. Despite these delays, the core infrastructure is largely in place, with the structures of two flyovers and three underpasses completed alongside most roadwork. However, finishing touches such as drainage systems, lighting, and aesthetic enhancements are still pending.
Launched in November 2025 with an original timeline of 18 months, the project is being carried out by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and is currently estimated to be around 75 to 76 percent complete. Officials attribute the delay mainly to adverse weather conditions and public holidays.
Rainfall in March and the Eid holiday break slowed down construction activities, with work typically resuming three days after rain. This disruption affected progress despite efforts to speed up the work by implementing double shifts.
During a recent inspection, Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak assessed the construction pace and instructed the responsible departments to ensure timely completion without compromising quality standards. Progress reports presented during the briefing indicated varied completion rates: the main site is about 74 percent finished, the Iftikhar Janjua Underpass at 72 percent, and Jinnah Park Chowk at 71 percent. Utility ducts have reached 83 percent completion, while the pedestrian bridge stands at approximately 50 percent.
Officials emphasized that the project is being expedited to benefit the public, given its critical role in alleviating traffic congestion at one of Rawalpindi’s busiest intersections. The Kutchery Chowk redevelopment is part of a wider initiative to enhance urban mobility in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, where increasing population and traffic volumes have strained existing road networks.
Once finalized, the project is expected to significantly improve traffic flow by segregating local and transit traffic through multi-level flyovers and underpasses, thereby reducing bottlenecks at the junction. However, the repeated adjustments in cost and timelines underscore the challenges faced by large infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including weather interruptions, planning revisions, and execution delays.
