RAWALPINDI: The ambitious District Kachehry underpass, overhead bridge, and pedestrian bridges project in Rawalpindi has witnessed significant cost escalation, with the budget rising from Rs16 billion to Rs19 billion. Authorities attribute the sharp increase to skyrocketing prices of key construction materials, including cement, sand, and steel, which have placed considerable financial strain on the infrastructure initiative.
In addition to the cost overrun, the project has suffered a 30-day delay in its scheduled completion. Eid holidays and persistent heavy rainfall over the past three weeks have disrupted construction timelines, pushing the expected completion date from April 30 to May 30, 2026. Preparations for the inauguration ceremony have consequently been suspended until further notice.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak has taken strict notice of the setback and issued firm directives to the concerned authorities to ensure the project is completed by May 30 without any further extension. During a recent site visit alongside Frontier Works Organisation officials, the commissioner reviewed construction progress firsthand and received detailed briefings from engineers and contractors.
Current figures indicate that overall construction progress stands at 76 percent, with work being carried out in double shifts to compensate for lost time. Physical progress at Kachehry intersection stands at 74 percent, 72 percent at Iftikhar Janjua, and 71 percent at Annex Chowk. Utility ducts are 83 percent complete, pedestrian bridges 50 percent, the tube well 96 percent, and the retaining wall 98 percent complete.
The project has also sparked controversy following the closure of the 200-year-old main gate of the district courts and adjoining access routes serving multiple judicial institutions. Judges, lawyers, and court staff have formally protested the closure, prompting the matter to be escalated to the High Court. Authorities have cited security concerns as justification, while legal community representatives have deemed alternative routes unsafe.
Launched on November 3, 2025, the project remains on course for its revised May 2026 deadline.
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