Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad: Rs 1.4 Billion, One Month Target

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad on 7 October 2026. The Capital Development Authority says it will cost Rs 1.4 billion, down from an estimate of Rs 1.6 billion, and is targeted for completion within one month. The junction carries about 107,000 vehicles.

If the one month target holds, the underpass should open around the first week of November 2026. That is our arithmetic from the ground-breaking date. CDA has not given a calendar date, and a one month build for an underpass at a busy junction is an unusually tight target.

We read CDA's release on the ceremony, which also lists several promises for Islamabad by 31 December 2026. Here is what was announced, what it means for commuters, and which parts are still only plans.

The underpass costs Rs 1.4 billion and has a one month target

CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf told the Prime Minister the project was finalised at Rs 1.4 billion, saving Rs 0.2 billion on the first estimate through cost optimisation. The release says the work is on an accelerated basis, with completion targeted within one month.

The release blames the current jams on the sheer volume, on traffic conflicts at the junction, and on VIP movements and peak hours. Anyone who has crossed between the twin cities at 8:30 am knows the feeling.

Two underpasses and four slip roads are planned

The project has dedicated underpasses for traffic coming from Serena and for traffic from Faizabad heading towards Murree. It adds four new slip roads and about five acres of land for the wider road. It will also be joined to a planned widening of expressway lanes.

1. An underpass for traffic coming from the Serena side.
2. An underpass for traffic from Faizabad towards Murree.
3. Four new slip roads to spread traffic across the junction.
4. About five acres added to fit the bigger road and its facilities.
5. A link to the planned extra lanes on the expressway between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

CDA says that once all of this is joined up with the coming road work, travel between Islamabad and Rawalpindi should take about 16 to 18 minutes. That figure depends on the expressway lanes too, and the release gives no date for those.

Commuters should expect diversions while the work runs

A junction carrying about 107,000 vehicles cannot be rebuilt without disruption. CDA's release does not include a diversion plan, closure times or alternative routes, so watch for official traffic advisories before your daily drive.

Give yourself extra time for the next month, especially at peak hours and during VIP movements, which the release itself names as a cause of jams. Construction zones also bring lane changes and temporary signs that are easy to miss.

Take care with speed and lane rules near the works. Islamabad traffic fines are issued as e-challans, and you can check and pay an Islamabad e-challan online if a camera catches you in the confusion.

The same release promised four things by 31 December

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi used the ceremony to announce wider plans. Islamabad is to be plastic-free and fully cashless by 31 December 2026, and all its land records are to be digitised by 31 December.

These are announcements, not notified rules. A minister's statement at a ceremony is not a law, and none of the five comes with a published plan in the release. The plastic part already has rules behind it: the Islamabad plastic bag ban and its fines are in force now.

The cashless goal is the one most likely to touch daily life. Some city payments already work without cash, and you can pay CDA property tax and water bills online today. How the rest of the city's shops, parking and transport would go cashless in under three months, the release does not say.

Why the deadline is tied to the SCO meeting

The Interior Minister linked the work to preparing Islamabad for major international meetings, naming the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conference. Pakistan already hosted the SCO national coordinators in Islamabad in September.

The Prime Minister said better links between Islamabad and Rawalpindi would save time and fuel for students, workers and businesses. He also said that naming the junction Kashmir Chowk carries a message of solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Our view is simple. The cost and the traffic count are useful facts. The one month target and the December promises are commitments, and we will check them when the dates arrive.

Common questions

When will the Kashmir Chowk Underpass be completed?

CDA targets completion within one month of the 7 October 2026 ground-breaking, which points to early November. No exact date has been given.

How much does the Kashmir Chowk Underpass cost?

Rs 1.4 billion, according to CDA. The first estimate was Rs 1.6 billion.

How many vehicles use Kashmir Chowk?

About 107,000 vehicles, according to the CDA briefing given to the Prime Minister.

Will Islamabad really be cashless by 31 December 2026?

It is an announcement by the Interior Minister. No notified rule or published plan came with it, so treat it as a target for now.

Is there a traffic diversion plan for the underpass work?

CDA's release does not include one. Watch for official traffic advisories and leave extra time at peak hours.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 9 October 2026. All facts come from the CDA release "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lays foundation stone for Kashmir Chowk Underpass", listed on the CDA news page under 7 October 2026. The early November date is our arithmetic from the one month target. CDA has not published drawings, a diversion plan or a contract award with the release.