The Kashmir Chowk Underpass Islamabad will open to traffic on Thursday, 5 November, after construction finished in a record 27 days, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Wednesday.
Opening set for Thursday
Naqvi said the underpass is ready for motorists following a compressed build that authorities described as completed ahead of schedule. Once open, the crossing is expected to improve traffic movement at Kashmir Chowk and give drivers a smoother route through the busy intersection.
The project adds to Islamabad’s recent road works delivered in under a month. Officials present it as a public-welfare scheme meant to ease daily congestion at the junction rather than a longer multi-year corridor upgrade.
Site visit, workers and green cover
The minister visited the finished underpass late at night to inspect finishing work before the opening. Accounts differ on whether that inspection took place late Tuesday or late Wednesday.
During the visit he met construction workers and thanked them for round-the-clock labour that, he said, allowed the job to finish within the 27-day deadline. Addressing the crews, he called them the “real heroes” and praised both their dedication and the quality of the work.
Landscaping forms part of the package: 6,000 new trees and plants have already been put in around the site, presented as a step to improve the local environment alongside the road works.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Over 27 days: construction of the underpass completed on a compressed schedule.
- Late Tuesday or Wednesday night: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi inspected finishing work and met workers (accounts differ on the night).
- Wednesday: Naqvi announced that the underpass would open to traffic the next day.
- Thursday, 5 November: scheduled opening to traffic.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad ke Kashmir Chowk par naya underpass khulne wala hai. Yeh Thursday, 5 November ko gaariyon ke liye open hoga. Yeh project record 27 din mein mukammal hua hai. Wazir Mohsin Naqvi ke mutabiq is se chowk par traffic zyada asaan honi chahiye.
