Only about 1 km of road widening, carpeting was completed, no progress on the remaining 27.4 km
RAWALPINDI:
Despite the allocation of Rs 23.84 billion in the 2025-2026 federal budget for the dualization of the Soan Camp-Model Town-Kahuta Road (28.4 km), along with the Sihala Railway Crossing and the Kahuta bypass project, the construction work has not been successful beyond one kilometer even after 11 months.
According to details, the mega infrastructure project approved by ECNEC on 27 July 2023 was meant to upgrade the main Rawalpindi-Kahuta road to a dual carriageway and improve connectivity to Azad Kashmir via Rawalakot and Kotli, giving it strategic importance as a defense link route.
Despite budget allocations in the current financial year, however, no significant development work has taken place. Only about one kilometer of road widening and carpeting from Kahuta Y-Cross to Hothla Stop was completed before work came to a standstill, with no visible progress on the remaining 27.4 km or marking for dualisation.
The Sihala Railway Crossing flyover component of the project has also not been commenced, further delaying the overall scheme.
The slow pace of work has exacerbated traffic congestion on the route, causing daily hardships for commuters, including frequent accidents, delays and disruptions to business and official travel.
