Islamabad Kashmir Chowk Underpass Work Starts Sept 27

Islamabad drivers should prepare for another major road project near Murree Road. According to sources, the Capital Development Authority is getting ready to start construction of the Kashmir Chowk underpass after September 27, while site clearing and traffic planning are already under way. The junction is also known as Dhokri Chowk and sits near Islamabad Club.

The project has been awarded to Habib Construction Services, with the accepted financial bid set at Rs1.45 billion against the tender estimate of Rs1.486 billion. According to source reports, the underpass was designed by NESPAK’s Lahore team. Officials also want the work finished within the approved bid amount and are trying to avoid design changes that could push costs up.

For daily commuters, the biggest impact will be on movement through a busy part of the city. Once work starts in full, traffic from the Serena side toward Rawalpindi will use the underpass. Vehicles heading toward Murree will move over the roof of the underpass. That split traffic plan may help later, but in the short term drivers should expect congestion, temporary route changes and possible lane restrictions around Kashmir Chowk.

According to source reports, clearing and grubbing have already started at the site. The authority is also planning diversions and shifting utility services before formal construction begins. However, the available reports do not give a final diversion map or a confirmed daily closure schedule, so commuters should treat any social media route advice with care and rely on official CDA notices.

One point that matters for readers is the timeline. The bidding documents reportedly give the contractor 90 days to finish the project, but sources say the CDA is hoping for a faster completion of around two months. That shorter target should be seen as an expectation, not a guarantee. Work can still slow down if utility shifting, traffic control, weather or site conditions create problems.

This kind of uncertainty is important for people who travel between central Islamabad and Rawalpindi every day. Even a short road closure at Kashmir Chowk can affect links to Islamabad Club, Murree Road and nearby feeder routes. Drivers who can change their timing may want to leave extra early once heavy construction activity begins.

For now, there is no need to make long-term travel changes. But once the project enters full construction, regular users of the area should be ready for delays and should check for official updates before heading out.

If you want to understand why this junction keeps causing traffic trouble, see our earlier coverage on why drivers at Kashmir Chowk still face long delays. You can also read our report on the Margalla Underpass on Islamabad Park Road opening soon for a useful comparison with another CDA road project.

For commuters, the next key update will be the formal groundbreaking notice, followed by the final diversion plan and a fresh completion timeline.

For more updates, visit DrivePK.com