Interior Minister Announces New Underpass at Shaheen Chowk, Islamabad
In a significant move to tackle Islamabad’s growing traffic issues, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced the launch of the Shaheen Chowk Underpass project—another key infrastructure initiative aimed at easing congestion in the capital.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is finalizing preparations to begin construction on this much-anticipated project. According to the minister, the design phase is nearly complete, and physical work will commence shortly. The underpass is being seen as a crucial development, especially for the area surrounding major educational institutions, which faces frequent traffic jams due to the daily commute of students, faculty, and local residents.
Strategic Importance for Islamabad’s Road Network
The Shaheen Chowk underpass is part of a broader urban development and road expansion plan led by the CDA to improve mobility across the city. Sources within the authority confirmed that the project is aligned with a vision to enhance inter-sector connectivity, reduce travel times, and streamline vehicular movement between densely populated areas.
Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the project’s urgency, noting that residents and university-goers have long faced delays and congestion in the area. He assured the public that the government is committed to speeding up key infrastructure projects that bring real relief to citizens.
Building on Recent Successes
This new announcement comes just weeks after the rapid completion of the Jinnah Square Underpass on Murree Road, which was built in just 35 days and inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. That underpass now provides direct access from Murree Road to Srinagar Highway, significantly easing traffic flow for commuters in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Urban planners believe that the same model of fast-track execution and high-priority development can be applied to the Shaheen Chowk underpass, potentially bringing quick and lasting improvement to one of Islamabad’s busiest corridors.
As Islamabad continues to expand, such projects are essential not just for easing daily commutes but also for supporting the city’s educational, commercial, and residential infrastructure. The public now awaits the timely execution of the Shaheen Chowk underpass with hopes that it will follow the same swift pace as its predecessors.
