Punjab Plans New Underpass on Rawalpindi Mall Road to Ease Traffic

News Desk

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has initiated planning for a major underpass on The Mall directly opposite the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) and Military Hospital, aiming to eliminate chronic traffic snarls at the vital Station Mor intersection in the garrison city.

According to senior district administration officials, a formal feasibility and execution proposal has been submitted to the provincial executive following detailed technical recommendations by National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak).

The engineering appraisal underscores that establishing this subterranean transit link is essential to fulfilling the broader blueprint of converting Peshawar Road and The Mall into an uninterrupted, signal-free corridor stretching from Koral Chowk and Ammar Chowk right up to Motorway Chowk.

The strategic thoroughfare serves tens of thousands of daily commuters between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, but frequent bottlenecks in front of vital military healthcare institutions have historically caused acute transit delays and compromised ambulance access.

Simultaneously, the National Highway Authority is undertaking road expansion between Chungi No. 26 and Motorway Chowk, while the Punjab Highway Department finishes two interconnected underpass projects at Race Course Park and Charing Cross.

Integrating the AFIC junction into this matrix will dramatically reduce transit times and lower fuel consumption across central Rawalpindi.

District authorities confirmed that upon receiving final administrative and fiscal sanctions from the provincial cabinet, construction on the AFIC underpass is scheduled to break ground by late December.

Contractors will coordinate traffic diversions to maintain steady access to surrounding emergency health facilities while heavy civil works are executed.