Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the immediate construction of new underpasses at Kashmir Chowk and Faisal Mosque to ease chronic traffic congestion in the federal capital. The directive came during a high-level review session held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Headquarters, where officials gathered to evaluate ongoing and upcoming civic infrastructure projects across Islamabad.
Commuters traveling through these busy intersections have faced mounting frustration due to daily rush-hour bottlenecks. The new underpasses aim to streamline vehicular flow along major arterial roads, reducing commute times for thousands of residents who traverse these routes daily.
CDA Headquarters Review Meeting
The decision to fast-track the Kashmir Chowk underpass and Faisal Mosque underpass projects was finalized during a comprehensive briefing at the CDA Headquarters. Mohsin Naqvi reviewed progress reports on multiple civic initiatives currently underway in the city.
Traffic management in Islamabad has become a pressing concern as the vehicle count continues to surge. Urban planners have long pointed to intersections like Kashmir Chowk as critical choke points that require grade-separated solutions rather than basic signal management.
Here are the core components of the newly ordered infrastructure push:
- Construction of a grade-separated underpass at Kashmir Chowk.
- Development of a dedicated traffic-relief underpass near Faisal Mosque.
- Comprehensive redesign of adjoining slip roads to maximize vehicle throughput.
- Strict timelines enforced for project contractors to prevent typical bureaucratic delays.
Impact on Daily Commuters
If you use these routes to get to work or drop your children off at school, the current detours and construction phases will likely cause temporary disruptions. However, transport officials maintain that the long-term relief will significantly cut down travel times between the diplomatic enclave, sector zones, and main highway connections.
Previous infrastructure additions in the capital have shown mixed results regarding long-term congestion relief, making rigorous engineering standards and timely completion crucial for these new additions. Motorists are advised to keep an eye out for official traffic advisory notices regarding alternate routes once groundwork begins.
What to Watch Next
Keep track of upcoming CDA public tenders and contractor mobilization announcements to see when ground-breaking will officially take place. Local authorities are expected to release detailed maps of diversion routes and estimated completion schedules in the coming weeks. Motorists should anticipate temporary lane reductions around both intersections as engineering teams conduct initial soil testing and utility mapping.