Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has inaugurated Rawalpindi’s Kutchery Chowk remodeling project, which has now been renamed Marka-e-Haq Square. The corridor has been redesigned as a signal-free route with two flyovers, three underpasses, and two steel pedestrian bridges.
The project, built at a reported cost of Rs19 billion, is expected to ease traffic movement across one of Rawalpindi’s busiest junctions. Officials say the corridor will support the movement of more than 200,000 vehicles daily, with improved access between The Mall, Rashid Minhas Road, Old Airport Road, Saddar, and adjoining routes.
Why It Matters for Rawalpindi Drivers
Kutchery Chowk has long been one of Rawalpindi’s most congested traffic points, especially during office hours, court hours, and school hours. By separating traffic through flyovers and underpasses, the project aims to reduce signal delays, idling time, and daily congestion.
For motorists, the benefit should be practical rather than symbolic: smoother movement, fewer stops, and less fuel wasted in slow-moving traffic. In a city where maintenance costs and fuel prices already shape daily driving decisions, even small reductions in congestion matter.
Key Traffic Links
The four-lane flyover connects The Mall with Rashid Minhas Road, while an underpass links Old Airport Road to Saddar. Another underpass has been built from Kutchery Chowk to Mushtaq Baig Shaheed Road, with a separate two-lane underpass connecting Iftikhar Janjua Road to Kutchery Chowk.
These links are important because Kutchery Chowk serves multiple neighborhoods. It acts as a pressure point for traffic moving between cantonment areas, courts, commercial zones, and key city routes.
Pedestrian Safety Will Be the Real Test
The project also includes pedestrian bridges, including what officials described as a modern pedestrian bridge at Marka-e-Haq Square. This matters because signal-free corridors can make roads faster for vehicles but harder for pedestrians.
If the bridges are clean, well-lit, and easy to access, they can improve safety. If not, pedestrians may continue crossing at road level, creating new risks and slowing traffic again.
What Drivers Should Do Now
Drivers should expect a short adjustment period as traffic returns to the redesigned corridor. Old habits at Kutchery Chowk may no longer work, especially around underpass entries, flyover approaches, and exit points.
Motorists should follow lane markings, avoid sudden turns near underpass entrances, and rely on updated signage rather than memory. Pedestrians should use the new bridges rather than crossing at road level, because signal-free corridors can become more dangerous when people cross through fast-moving traffic.
The Bigger Picture
Marka-e-Haq Square reflects Pakistan’s continued reliance on flyovers and underpasses to manage urban congestion. Such projects can offer visible relief at overloaded junctions, but their long-term success depends on traffic enforcement, service-road management, parking control, and pedestrian discipline.
For Rawalpindi, the opening is significant. But the real verdict will come after regular traffic returns and the corridor is tested during peak hours. A successful project will not just look impressive at the inauguration. It will save time quietly every day.
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