Peshawar underpass misses 60-day deadline

The Kabotar Chowk Underpass project, being executed under the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government's Azmat-e-Rafta development programme, has failed to meet its stipulated 60-day completion deadline. The Rs2 billion underpass is part of a broader initiative to construct flyovers and underpasses at various points along Peshawar's Ring Road. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi formally launched the Kabotar Chowk project on June 4, while construction work began on June 17. The government had announced that the underpass would be completed within 60 days. Although the construction work has been progressing at a record pace, the officially announced deadline expires today (Thursday) without the project being fully completed. As part of the project, encroachments around Kabotar Chowk were demolished, while the adjoining service road is also being widened to improve traffic flow. The authorities had attempted to open the underpass to traffic on September 7, but construction of the road could not be completed within the required timeframe, preventing its opening. According to officials, the underpass is now likely to be opened to traffic on October 1. However, remaining development and finishing works around the project will continue even after the underpass is opened for motorists.