Islamabad’s long-delayed Park Road underpass has finally opened to traffic, months behind its original schedule, giving commuters relief along one of the capital’s busiest corridors. Social media video shared by motorists confirmed vehicles actively using the newly completed facility.
The Park Road underpass project, part of a broader Rs. 10 billion infrastructure package that also includes an overhead structure and service roads, was originally expected to take just four months when full-scale construction began in March 2026. Instead, the project stretched to roughly six and a half months before opening to the public in mid-September.
A History of Missed Deadlines
The delay is not the project’s first. Back in June 2026, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry had indicated that the underpass — described as phase one of the broader works — would be completed by July, with the remaining components wrapping up by August. Those revised targets came and went without completion, pushing the opening back by roughly six additional weeks beyond even the adjusted timeline.
Such delays are a familiar pattern in large urban infrastructure projects in Pakistan, often attributed to a combination of design revisions, utility relocations, and contractor scheduling issues. For residents who have navigated construction-related congestion along Park Road for months, the actual opening will likely matter more than the delays that preceded it.
What the Underpass Means for Islamabad Traffic
The completed underpass is designed to significantly improve connectivity between Park Road, Margalla Avenue, and surrounding residential developments, including DHA Margalla Enclave, Park View City, and Bahria Enclave. Officials have said the project should reduce congestion, cut travel times, and lower fuel consumption for commuters who previously had to navigate at-grade intersections during peak hours.
With the underpass now operational, attention will likely shift to the remaining components of the broader Park Road development package, including the overhead structure and additional service roads that were bundled into the original Rs. 10 billion scope. Whether these remaining elements face similar delays will be closely watched by residents who have already experienced months of construction-related disruption in the area.
The underpass adds to a series of infrastructure announcements this week, including the six-lane expansion deadline set for the M-4 motorway’s Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad section, reflecting continued federal investment in road connectivity projects nationwide.