Kashmir Chowk Underpass Opens in Islamabad After Just 27 Days of Work

The Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad is now open to traffic. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the project on Thursday, 5 November 2026, just 27 days after construction began — a pace the prime minister himself described as extraordinary.

The 500-metre underpass, built at a cost of Rs1.45 billion, is meant to end the daily traffic jams at one of the capital’s busiest junctions. Around four kilometres of roads were rebuilt around it, two monuments were raised at the site, and thousands of new trees were planted as part of the work.

The prime minister congratulated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the contractor for finishing the project at what he called lightning speed, working day and night. He said the underpass would solve the traffic problem in the area — and he pointed to the project as an example of how public works in Pakistan could be done: fast, on budget, and through a transparent process.

At a glance

• What happened: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
• What it cost: Rs1.45 billion — 2.5 percent less than the estimated cost.
• How long it took: 27 days, against a 90-day contract period.
• What was built: A 500-metre underpass, about four kilometres of surrounding roads, two monuments, and landscaping including 6,340 new trees.
• Why it matters: Kashmir Chowk is one of Islamabad’s busiest junctions, carrying about 107,000 vehicles, and a key link between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
• What happens next: The underpass is open to traffic. The government has also announced plans for a safari park in Islamabad, with work expected to begin in January.

What the project includes

The centrepiece is the underpass itself: a 500-metre stretch of road that dips below the junction, letting through-traffic pass under Kashmir Chowk instead of waiting at its signals. Around it, the CDA rebuilt about four kilometres of road, so that the approaches to the underpass are as smooth as the underpass itself.

Two monuments were also built at the site, and the area around the junction was landscaped. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said 6,340 new trees had been planted as part of the project, and that every existing tree at the site had been preserved. In a city where road projects often mean felled trees, that detail was one the minister chose to highlight.

The work was carried out by Habib Construction Services, which won the contract through the CDA’s tender process. The company quoted Rs1.45 billion for the job, against an estimated cost of Rs1.486 billion in the tender documents — a saving of about 2.5 percent. The prime minister said the contract had been awarded through an electronic bidding system, and described the project as having been completed with full transparency and according to government procurement rules.

27 days: how it was built so fast

The speed of the project is the part that has drawn the most attention. The foundation stone was laid in early October 2026, and the underpass was finished in 27 days. The contractor had formally been given 90 days to complete the work. CDA officials had said they were aiming for a fast-track finish of about two months. In the end, the project beat even that target.

At the inauguration, the prime minister said he had rarely seen a major infrastructure project completed so quickly in his political career. He credited the pace to round-the-clock working — day and night shifts — and to close supervision by the interior minister and the CDA.

The speed is worth putting in context. Large road projects in Pakistan usually take months or years, and often run past their deadlines. A 500-metre underpass at a busy junction, finished in under a month, is unusual by any measure. It is also worth noting what speed alone does not prove: the real test of the underpass will be how it holds up over the coming months, in the rain, under heavy traffic, and with regular maintenance. A project built fast still needs to be built well, and that will only become clear with time.

The cost: Rs1.45 billion, and the saving

The underpass cost Rs1.45 billion. That is a large sum, but the government has made a point of the fact that it came in below the estimate. The tender documents put the estimated cost at Rs1.486 billion, and the winning bid of Rs1.45 billion was about 2.5 percent lower. The prime minister described this as evidence that the procurement had been handled properly.

Cost overruns are one of the most common problems with public projects in Pakistan. Contracts are awarded, work begins, and the final bill ends up far above the original estimate. In this case the government is presenting the opposite story: a project finished ahead of schedule and under budget. If the figures hold up, it is a useful example. But as with the speed, the figures will need to stand up to scrutiny. The real cost of a project is not just the construction bill — it includes maintenance, repairs and the cost of keeping the roads around it in good shape over the years.

Why Kashmir Chowk matters

Kashmir Chowk is not just any junction. It sits at a crossing point that carries traffic between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and on the route towards Bhara Kahu. Figures shared at the launch of the project put the traffic through the junction at about 107,000 vehicles — a volume that explains why the crossing has long been one of the capital’s worst bottlenecks.

For commuters, the junction has meant long waits at signals, especially during the morning and evening rush. Traffic heading in several directions meets at one point, and the signals have to serve all of them. An underpass changes that by taking the heaviest flow of through-traffic below the junction, leaving the surface roads for local traffic and turns.

The project is part of a wider push by the CDA to make the capital’s roads signal-free. Under its Islamabad Vision 2027 plan, the authority has been working on a series of underpasses and flyovers at the city’s busiest crossings, with the aim of keeping traffic moving without signals on the main routes. Kashmir Chowk is the latest of these, and one of the fastest to be completed.

For people who drive through the area every day, the change should be immediate: shorter waits, less stop-start driving, and less fuel wasted sitting in queues. For the city as a whole, the underpass is a small but visible piece of a larger effort to fix Islamabad’s traffic before it gets worse. The capital’s population and its vehicle numbers have both grown steadily, and junctions that coped ten years ago are now struggling.

What the prime minister and the interior minister said

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister praised the team behind the project and said the pace of construction was something he had rarely seen. He said the combination of rapid completion, transparent contracting and cost savings was an encouraging example for future public infrastructure projects.

He also used the occasion to look ahead. Next year, he said, Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in the capital — another reason, in his view, to keep improving Islamabad’s infrastructure.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who oversaw the project, spoke about the landscaping and the trees, and announced a separate plan: the government intends to establish a safari park in Islamabad, which he described as the largest in Asia, with work expected to begin in January. No further details of that project — its location, its cost or its size — were given at the ceremony.

Naqvi also spoke about a separate matter, the One Constitution Avenue property, saying the prime minister had assured the government of full cooperation on the issue. He did not give details.

Trees, monuments and the look of the place

Road projects are usually judged on traffic alone, but the government has also drawn attention to how the finished junction looks. Two monuments were built at the site, and the landscaping around the underpass was part of the finished work.

The tree count — 6,340 new trees planted, with existing trees preserved — matters in Islamabad, a city that prides itself on its greenery. Large construction projects in the capital have often been criticised for cutting down mature trees, and the minister’s emphasis on preservation suggests the government was aware of that concern. Whether the new trees survive and grow will depend on watering and care in the months ahead, which is a detail worth watching.

What it means for commuters

For the thousands of people who pass through Kashmir Chowk every day, the underpass should mean a simpler journey. Through-traffic no longer has to stop at the junction’s signals. That should cut journey times on the routes that pass through it, and reduce the queues that used to build up at peak hours.

There are limits to what one underpass can do. Traffic that is freed from one junction often moves faster to the next one, and if the next junction is not ready, the jam simply moves. The real benefit of the Kashmir Chowk underpass will depend on the wider network of roads around it — which is why the four kilometres of rebuilt roads around the site matter, and why the CDA’s wider programme of underpasses and flyovers matters too.

It is also worth remembering that the underpass has only just opened. The first days will show whether the new layout works as intended, whether drivers understand the new routes, and whether any teething problems appear — such as confusion at the entry and exit points, or water collecting in the underpass during rain. The CDA and the traffic police will need to watch the junction closely in the first weeks and adjust signs and markings if needed.

What to watch next

Several things will show whether the Kashmir Chowk underpass lives up to its billing.

First, the traffic itself. If the queues at the junction disappear and stay away, the project will have done its job. If congestion simply shifts to the next crossing, the benefit will be smaller than promised.

Second, the condition of the underpass. Fast construction is only a success if the structure lasts. Cracks, waterlogging or damaged surfaces in the first year would raise questions about whether speed came at the cost of quality.

Third, whether the model is repeated. The prime minister presented the project as an example for future infrastructure work. If other projects are delivered at the same pace and cost, it would mark a real change in how public works are done in Pakistan. If this turns out to be a one-off, it will be remembered as a good project rather than a new way of working.

Fourth, the safari park. The interior minister’s announcement of a major new park, with work starting in January, is a separate promise. It will be judged on its own when the time comes.

And finally, the SCO conference. The prime minister said Pakistan will host the conference in the capital next year. That gives the government a deadline of its own: the city will need to be ready, and the underpass is one of the projects meant to help get it there.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Kashmir Chowk underpass open?

It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, 5 November 2026, and opened to traffic the same day.

How long did it take to build?

Construction took 27 days, from the laying of the foundation stone in early October 2026 to the inauguration. The contractor had been given 90 days under the contract.

How much did it cost?

Rs1.45 billion. That was about 2.5 percent less than the estimated cost of Rs1.486 billion in the tender documents.

Who built it?

Habib Construction Services won the contract through the CDA’s tender process, with the work overseen by the Capital Development Authority and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

What exactly was built?

A 500-metre underpass at Kashmir Chowk, about four kilometres of surrounding roads, two monuments, and landscaping including 6,340 newly planted trees.

Why was the underpass needed?

Kashmir Chowk is one of Islamabad’s busiest junctions, carrying about 107,000 vehicles. It is a key link between Islamabad and Rawalpindi and on the route towards Bhara Kahu, and it has long suffered from heavy congestion.

What else was announced at the inauguration?

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced plans for a safari park in Islamabad, described as the largest in Asia, with work expected to begin in January. The prime minister also said Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in the capital next year.

Conclusion

The Kashmir Chowk underpass is a straightforward project with a striking headline: a major piece of road infrastructure, finished in 27 days and under budget, at one of Islamabad’s busiest junctions. For the commuters who use the junction every day, the benefit should be immediate and easy to feel — shorter waits and a smoother journey.

The bigger question is whether the project is a one-off or a sign of change. Pakistan’s public works have a long record of delays and cost overruns, and one fast underpass does not undo that record. But it does show that speed and savings are possible when a project is supervised closely and built around the clock.

For now, the underpass is open, the traffic is moving, and the trees are planted. The next test is time: whether the structure holds up, whether the traffic stays smooth, and whether the government can do the same thing again.

Sources

• Associated Press of Pakistan, via TezKhabar, “PM inaugurates Kashmir Underpass to ease traffic congestion in capital”, 5 November 2026: https://en.tezkhabar.tv/pm-inaugurates-kashmir-underpass-to-ease-traffic-congestion-in-capital/
• Azaad Digital, “PM Shehbaz inaugurates Kashmir Chowk underpass”, 5 November 2026: https://azaaddigital.com/pm-shehbaz-inaugurates-kashmir-chowk-underpass/
• ReNews Pakistan, “CDA Set to Begin Rs 1.45bn Kashmir Chowk Underpass Project in Islamabad”: https://www.renews.pk/real-estate-news-detail.php?category=Local&lang=en&news=2665
• PakWheels, “PM to Inaugurate Kashmir Chowk Underpass Tomorrow”, 5 November 2026: https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/kashmir-chowk-underpass-opening-november-6/
• DrivePK, “Islamabad Kashmir Chowk Underpass to Open Nov 5-6”, 5 November 2026: https://www.drivepk.com/blog/islamabad-kashmir-chowk-underpass-opening

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.