Kahuta Y-Cross. Photo: TikTok
RAWALPINDI:
With the completion of the first six months (July-December) of the fiscal year 2025-26 of the federal budget, work on the Soan-Sihala-Kahuta Road project has not progressed more than five percent due to a persistent slowdown, despite the allocation of Rs23.845 billion.
The route, which provides access via Kahuta to Kotli and Rawalakot in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is also of strategic importance and has been designated as a defense route. During the project, almost two kilometers of a dual carriageway have been built between Kahuta Y-Cross and Hothla Stop.
Despite the passage of six months of the current financial year, progress on the Rawalpindi-Kahuta road remains extremely slow. At present, only a two-kilometre stretch from Kahuta Y-Cross to Hothla Stop has been widened and carpeted to form a dual carriageway, while work on the remaining section from Y-Cross to Kahuta town is yet to begin.
It is pertinent to note that Kahuta Road, which stretches 28.4 kilometers from Rawalpindi Soan to Kahuta, is to be converted into a dual carriageway. However, work has come to a standstill at the Hothla Stop, and no markings have even been made on the remaining 26.4 kilometres. Similarly, the construction of the overhead bridge at Sihala level crossing is yet to begin.
For this vital route – connected to Azad Kashmir through two separate corridors and accorded the status of a defense road – funds of Rs 23.845 billion were allocated. in the current federal budget. The project had previously been approved by the Federal Government’s highest forum, ECNEC, on July 27, 2023. However, as work did not start thereafter, funds were formally allocated again in the current year’s budget.
Sources said delays in converting Rawalpindi Soan Camp-Kahuta city stretch into a dual carriageway has resulted in increasing traffic pressure on the route, causing considerable inconvenience to commuters. These delays have led to frequent traffic accidents, extended travel times, disruptions in business activities and difficulties in reaching important offices on time. Long queues of vehicles regularly form when the Sihala railway crossing is closed, while travelers traveling from Rawalpindi to Kahuta, Rawalakot and Kotli in Azad Kashmir – and vice versa – continue to face severe hardships.
Residents maintained that if the Rawalpindi-Kahuta Road was upgraded to a dual carriageway along with the construction of an overhead bridge at Sihala level crossing, the 40 kilometer journey from Rawalpindi Kachehry to Kahuta Kachehry could be completed comfortably within 30 to 40 minutes. This, they added, would also ensure uninterrupted and timely travel of traffic heading towards Azad Kashmir beyond Kahuta.
Separately, an NHA spokesperson, commenting on the delay in the Soan-Kahuta two-way mega project, said the funding for package 1 will be provided by the Punjab government and work will begin immediately after receipt of the funds.
Work on package two, which falls under the jurisdiction of the NHA, is currently underway and is expected to be accelerated by the end of the current financial year.
The spokesperson added that only Rs 800 million has been released for the project during the current financial year and work on Package 1 under PC-I is contingent on the release of funds by the Punjab government.
