Rawalpindi Road Rehabilitation: Rs1.6bn Project

This report is based on a source report.

Nine major roads in Rawalpindi are expected to go under rehabilitation by the end of October 2026, but the work has not started yet because the contract-awarding process is still pending, according to source reports at https://www.dawn.com/news/2038602 and https://www.dawn.com/news/2031188. For daily commuters, that means the main risk right now is not a sudden road closure, but upcoming delays, diversions, and slower traffic once construction begins.

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation has set aside around Rs1.6 billion for the program, while the project-wise estimates listed in the source report add up to roughly Rs1.68 billion. That gap suggests final contract values may still change before work starts.

The nine roads in the plan

According to source reports, the roads included in the rehabilitation plan are:

• Khayaban-i-Sir Syed Road — Rs213.466 million

• Bokra Road — Rs226.454 million

• 5th Road — Rs138.525 million

• Rawal Road from Ali Nawaz Chowk to Murree Road — Rs241.894 million

• Chandni Chowk-Commercial Market Road — Rs115.718 million

• Railway Workshop Road — Rs247.871 million

• China Market-Gordon College Road — Rs138.318 million

• Satellite Town 4th B Road — Rs141.007 million

• Band Khana Road — Rs214.417 million

These routes matter because they connect busy business centres, housing areas, junctions, and work zones across the city.

Routes likely to affect traffic most

If the project moves into the construction stage, some of the biggest commuter headaches could come on Rawal Road, 5th Road, Chandni Chowk-Commercial Market Road, Railway Workshop Road, and China Market-Gordon College Road.

These are all high-use roads where even small repair zones can slow traffic fast. Drivers who pass through markets, school routes, or major intersections may face longer travel times and temporary detours. No closure map or phase-wise traffic plan has been announced in the source material, so commuters should treat the current timeline as a warning, not a live disruption notice.

Why the work was shifted to C&W

The source reports say the divisional administration moved the rehabilitation work to the Punjab Communication and Works Department because the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation was considered unable to carry out the projects itself.

Three more road projects were also handed over to C&W:

• Ch Bostan Khan Road from Chaklala Scheme-III to the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench

• Chakri Road

• The road toward Falcon Chowk along Islamabad Expressway

That means the city’s road work is now being handled through a provincial setup rather than only through the local body.

What “expected by end-October” really means

This is the part commuters should watch closely. The reports say work is expected to begin by the end of October, but only after contracts are awarded. So these are approved projects moving toward construction, not roads already under repair.

That difference matters for planning. If you drive on these roads every day, you do not need to assume a full shutdown today. But you should expect notices, lane shifts, and work crews once contracts are finalised.

What commuters should do now

Until official traffic updates arrive, Rawalpindi drivers should:

• check traffic notices before leaving

• keep extra travel time for market and junction routes

• choose an alternate route in advance

• avoid stopping near work zones once construction starts

• use navigation apps only as a backup to official diversion notices

• confirm route changes with school transport or bus operators if needed

For background on earlier Rawalpindi road plans, see Rawalpindi to Rehabilitate Nine Major Roads by December and Rawalpindi 13 Roads Set for Major Upgrade.

The project may improve road conditions in the long run, but the near-term reality for motorists is simple: prepare for delays, not immediate relief.

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