The Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad opened on November 5, 2026. Some people call the project the Kashmir Highway underpass. CDA and officials call the project the Kashmir Chowk underpass, also named the Dhokri Chowk underpass, on Murree Road near Islamabad Club. This update covers the timeline, cost and traffic plan, and what the project means for commercial property owners and tenants nearby.
What opened
- Inauguration. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the underpass on Thursday, November 5. Officials say crews finished the work in 27 days.
- Cost and scope. The project cost Rs1.45 billion. The package covers a 500-metre underpass, about four kilometres of surrounding roads, landscaping and two Kashmir-themed monuments.
- Trees and monitoring. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said crews planted 6,340 trees and a third party and CDA monitored progress.
- Traffic plan. Project reports describe the layout this way: traffic from the Serena side toward Rawalpindi uses the underpass, and traffic toward Murree uses the top slab. CDA estimates the junction handles about 107,000 vehicles a day, as PakWheels reported.
- Goal. Officials say the project eases movement between Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and Azad Kashmir.
Timeline of the project
| Date (2026) | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 24 | CDA opens technical bids. Two firms bid. The estimated cost is about Rs1.4 billion. |
| September 1 | CDA schedules a public hearing on the environmental assessment for September 21. |
| September 21 | CDA accepts the Habib Construction Services bid of Rs1.45 billion against a tender estimate of Rs1.486 billion. NESPAK’s Lahore team designed the project. |
| October 6 | Construction starts with a 30-day target. |
| October 24 | CDA reports 51 percent of the work complete. |
| November 1 | The CDA chairman reports 85 percent complete after 22 days. |
| November 5 | The Prime Minister inaugurates the underpass. |
The bidding documents set a 90-day completion period. The finished project beat the period by two months. The pace is a data point for other CDA road work, but ask for the final drawings before you rely on any road layout.
What officials announced next
At the inauguration, Mohsin Naqvi said the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conference will take place in Islamabad next year. He listed plans to begin Convention Centre work within 15 days, to open the Islamabad Stadium and to build a safari park. He also said the federal cabinet approved the Joint Investigation Team report on the One Constitution building, and said the building will become a hotel before the conference. These are announcements. None is complete, so treat each one as a plan until CDA publishes dates and approvals.
Investors in hospitality should read these plans next to the facts. CDA’s hotel plot auction on October 12 ended without a sale. See our posts on the hotel plot auction and SCO summit hotel pressure.
What this means for commercial property near the junction
No published data yet shows rent or price changes near Kashmir Chowk. The project is days old. Rely on facts you check yourself, not on seller claims. Use these steps if you own, rent or plan to buy commercial property nearby:
- Test the route. Drive the new layout at peak hours. Compare travel time to your customers, staff and suppliers with the old route.
- Check access. Ask how side roads and slip roads reach the building entrance and the parking area.
- Check visibility. New walls, slopes and landscaping change what drivers see. Confirm your signage still faces traffic.
- Compare listings. Set asking rents or prices near the junction against similar buildings elsewhere. Our guide to finding the best office in Islamabad shows how to compare rent per square foot.
- Verify the plot and plan. Ask CDA whether any road reservation or widening touches the plot, and confirm the approved building plan and use. Our guide to securing commercial property in Islamabad lists the checks.
- Do not pay for plans alone. Pay for what exists today. Planned projects add value only after they open.
How Estate Tune helps
Estate Tune works only in commercial property. Its website says the team verifies ownership documents, CDA zoning status and availability before listing, and supports site visits, price negotiation and CDA documentation. Buyers and renters pay no fee, because the seller or landlord pays the commission at closing. These are company statements, so ask for documents and references.
If you are weighing a unit near Kashmir Chowk or anywhere else in Islamabad, email contact@estatetune.com with your use, size, budget and preferred area, or use the contact page. Browse current commercial listings as well. For wider context, read our October 2026 market report.
Sources
Samaa TV, November 5, 2026 on the inauguration. PakWheels, November 4, 2026 and PakWheels, October 24, 2026 on progress and traffic. 24NewsHD, November 1, 2026. ProPakistani on the bids, the environmental hearing, the contract award and the 51 percent milestone. Estate Tune service details come from the company’s website.
This update gives general information, not legal or financial advice. Project details come from news reports and officials, and details change. Verify current plans with CDA before you decide.
Featured photo: aerial view of an Islamabad interchange by mhtoori on Pexels.
