Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the relevant provincial departments to examine three major infrastructure schemes for possible inclusion in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026-27, as the government considers further investment in road connectivity, traffic management and supporting civic infrastructure.
The proposed schemes include the construction and widening of Kitar Band Road from Multan Road to Ghausia Road, the widening and covering of Kharak Nala from Multan Road to the Motorway, and the construction of service roads along both sides of the Motorway from Jinnah Terminal to Babu Sabu.
According to details of the proposals under consideration, the Kharak Nala scheme is broader than a conventional drainage improvement project and also includes the development of an access road and a proposed Motorway interchange.
The Chief Minister’s Office has directed the departments concerned to carry out the required technical and administrative review of the schemes and submit a formal summary for further consideration.
The proposed projects are intended to improve connectivity between major roads, residential areas and motorway-linked routes while addressing traffic pressure in rapidly developing parts of the provincial capital.
The planned widening and reconstruction of Kitar Band Road is expected to improve movement between Multan Road and Ghausia Road, providing additional road capacity and potentially reducing congestion on surrounding routes.
Similarly, the proposed widening and covering of Kharak Nala could serve a dual purpose by improving drainage infrastructure while also creating additional space for road connectivity. The inclusion of an access road and proposed Motorway interchange could further strengthen links between nearby urban areas and the motorway network.
The third scheme proposes construction of service roads on both sides of the Motorway between Jinnah Terminal and Babu Sabu. Such roads could provide improved local access and reduce pressure on existing routes by separating shorter urban trips from motorway-bound traffic.
Officials are expected to assess the technical feasibility, estimated cost, land requirements and broader transport benefits of the three projects before any decision is taken on their inclusion in the ADP 2026-27.
The schemes are currently at the review stage and have not yet received final approval. Their inclusion in the provincial development programme will depend on the recommendations of the relevant departments and subsequent approval by the competent authorities.
The move forms part of the Punjab government’s broader focus on expanding and upgrading urban road infrastructure, improving traffic circulation and strengthening connectivity between major transport corridors.
If approved, the three schemes could become part of the province’s development portfolio for the 2026-27 financial year and add to a wider pipeline of road construction, remodelling and transport infrastructure projects being considered across Punjab.

Lahore : ReNews Pakistan
The newly constructed Bhatti Chowk Underpass has been opened to traffic after being completed in four months, providing motorists with a new route aimed at easing chronic congestion around Data Darbar and Lahore’s densely populated Inner City.
According to the Punjab government, the project was undertaken to address long-standing traffic bottlenecks at Bhatti Chowk, an important junction used by large numbers of commuters, public transport vehicles and commercial traffic travelling through the historic parts of Lahore.
With the underpass now operational, vehicles can move through the area without facing some of the delays previously caused by heavy traffic at the junction. The government says the project is expected to improve overall traffic circulation around Data Darbar and adjoining roads.
Bhatti Chowk serves as a major gateway to several parts of Lahore’s historic core and regularly experiences significant traffic pressure. Congestion in the area has traditionally resulted in longer travel times, particularly during peak hours and periods of increased activity around Data Darbar.
The Punjab government said the underpass has significantly reduced the time required to cross the congested section. According to a citizen quoted following the opening, travelling through the area previously took around 10 to 15 minutes, while the same journey can now be completed in approximately two to three minutes.
The reduction in travel time is expected to benefit not only private motorists but also public transport operators, commercial vehicles and commuters who regularly travel through the area.
Citizens and transporters have welcomed the opening of the underpass, particularly its completion within a relatively short construction period. The project was completed in four months and has now been made fully available for vehicular traffic.
The Punjab government described the scheme as part of its broader efforts to improve urban mobility and public infrastructure in Lahore. It said the project was completed in line with the public-service vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Beyond reducing congestion at Bhatti Chowk itself, improved movement through the junction could also help ease traffic pressure on surrounding roads by reducing queues and delays at a key inner-city intersection.
The opening adds another major traffic infrastructure facility to Lahore at a time when the provincial government is undertaking a number of road improvement, remodelling and traffic management projects across the city.
With the Bhatti Chowk Underpass now open, authorities expect smoother movement through the Data Darbar area and shorter journey times for thousands of commuters using the route daily.

Rawalpindi : ReNews Pakistan
The feasibility study for Phase-II of the Rawalpindi Ring Road has been completed, with NESPAK identifying the expansion of the existing M-2 motorway corridor between Thallian and Hakla Interchange as the most feasible and least expensive of three proposed options.
Under the preferred alignment, the existing motorway section from Thallian to Hakla Interchange, which forms part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor route, would be widened from three lanes to five lanes in each direction.
The proposed widening would cover approximately 15.3 kilometres and is estimated to cost around Rs 9 billion, significantly lower than the two alternative alignments examined during the feasibility process.
The second option proposes construction of an additional 19.5 kilometre route at an estimated cost of Rs18 billion, while the third option involves a 26.5 kilometre alignment on the western side of the motorway with a projected cost of around Rs 24 billion.
The assessment therefore places the first option at a clear cost advantage, while also allowing planners to use an existing major transport corridor instead of constructing an entirely new route.
The completion of the feasibility study represents an important step towards determining the future extension of the Rawalpindi Ring Road and improving connectivity between Thallian and Hakla. However, the preferred option will still require approval from the relevant authorities before implementation can begin.
Meanwhile, substantial progress has already been made on Phase-I of the project, which stretches approximately 38.3 kilometres from GT Road at Banth Mor to Thallian Interchange.
The main carriageway of Phase-I has largely been completed, while four of its five interchanges — Banth, Chakbeli Khan, Adiala and Chakri — have also been completed.
Work is continuing on the fifth interchange at Thallian after its design was expanded to provide broader connectivity. Despite the remaining work at the interchange, the Ring Road has already been connected with the motorway network.
Construction of toll plazas and installation of the tolling system are now among the major outstanding components of Phase-I.
Once the remaining toll-related infrastructure is completed, the project is expected to be transferred from the Project Management Unit to the Punjab Ring Road Authority, which will assume responsibility for its operation and management.
The Ring Road project has faced several revisions to its completion and inauguration schedule. August 14, 2026, had most recently been indicated as the expected inauguration date, but the opening did not take place because the tolling infrastructure had not yet been completed.
A service area established along the Ring Road, which had previously attracted controversy, has also been removed from the project route.
The proposed Phase-II extension is considered important for strengthening regional road connectivity by providing a more efficient link between the completed Ring Road corridor and the Hakla Interchange on the motorway network.
If the Rs 9 billion widening option receives final approval, the project would add two lanes in each direction along the 15.3 kilometre Thallian/Hakla section, potentially increasing traffic capacity while avoiding the substantially higher costs associated with constructing the two alternative routes.
The final alignment, funding mechanism and implementation schedule will depend on subsequent government approvals and decisions by the relevant project authorities.