Peshawar Plans Three New Underpasses as PDA Told to Draft City Master Plan

The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) has been directed to prepare a comprehensive master plan aimed at addressing traffic congestion and broader urban challenges in the provincial capital, officials said.

The directive was issued by Adviser on Local Government, Communications and Works, Agriculture and Housing Asif Rafiq during a Monday meeting convened to review both ongoing and proposed development projects in the city.

According to the details shared after the meeting, officials discussed a range of infrastructure proposals, including the expansion of Hashtnagri Bridge, the extension of Faqirabad Bridge up to Government College Chowk, and the construction of three new underpasses at Ram Das Bazaar, Jail Chowk and Shoba Bazaar Chowk.

A traffic management plan for Town Chowk on Khyber Road was also presented at the meeting, with the aim of improving the flow of vehicles through one of the city's busier intersections. Rafiq instructed the PDA to evaluate the proposed schemes on technical and practical grounds and to prioritise projects capable of delivering lasting solutions to Peshawar's traffic problems.

The adviser further called for underpasses and overhead bridges at major congestion points, to be planned on the basis of actual needs rather than blanket proposals. He also asked the authority to improve the city's appearance along the motorway and the Grand Trunk (GT) Road through better travel facilities, plantation drives and flower cultivation.

The meeting reflects a renewed push by the provincial government to modernise Peshawar's road network and upgrade civic infrastructure as the city continues to grapple with growing traffic volumes. The PDA's master plan is expected to set priorities for these projects, though no timeline or cost estimates have been disclosed so far.