RAWALPINDI: Murree has approved a Rs1.4735 billion development programme covering road upgrades, new parking facilities, beautification and improvements to the water-supply network as authorities seek to address the hill station’s long-standing traffic and infrastructure challenges.
At the same time, the proposed Murree Road signal-free corridor has been deferred for one year because of financial constraints.
120 Link Roads Planned to Improve Traffic Flow
Road infrastructure forms a major part of the newly approved development package.
Authorities plan to widen existing roads and develop a network of 120 link roads aimed at improving traffic circulation, particularly during peak tourist seasons when congestion can bring parts of Murree to a standstill.
Murree Road and Kashmir Road are also being upgraded to state-highway status.
Widening work has already begun on Upper Jhika Gali Road, Hall Road and Imtiaz Shaheed Road.
For motorists, the road improvements could have a more immediate impact than some of the cosmetic upgrades, as Murree frequently struggles with narrow roads, traffic bottlenecks and heavy seasonal congestion.
Multi-Storey Parking Plazas Part of Development Plan
The package also includes plans for multi-storey parking plazas to address one of Murree’s most persistent problems — limited parking space in its central tourist areas.
Additional parking capacity could help reduce roadside parking and improve traffic movement around Mall Road and other busy locations, particularly on weekends, during snowfall and throughout holiday periods.
Rs550 Million Allocated for Mall Road Restoration
Murree’s historic Mall Road is also set for a major restoration under the development programme.
Authorities plan to restore 23 heritage buildings and 76 shops in accordance with their original architectural character.
Separately, the Walled City Authority has been allocated Rs550 million for the beautification of Mall Road and the installation of uniform commercial signboards.
Plans also include the removal of illegal three-storey structures along Mall Road, Hall Road and Imtiaz Shaheed Road. Some of the cleared areas are expected to be converted into parks and green spaces.
Murree Road Signal-Free Corridor Delayed
While several local infrastructure projects are moving ahead, the Murree Road signal-free corridor has been pushed back by one year.
The scheme was among several Rawalpindi-area infrastructure projects affected by tighter development spending and fiscal constraints in Punjab during 2026.
Earlier reporting showed that the signal-free corridor had already been dropped from the current development programme alongside several other major projects.
The newly approved Rs1.47 billion Murree package will therefore focus more heavily on improving local road capacity, parking facilities and urban infrastructure rather than advancing the larger signal-free corridor.
If implemented as planned, the road widening projects, 120-link-road network and additional parking facilities could ease pressure on motorists and improve traffic movement.
The biggest test, however, will come during Murree’s busiest tourist periods, when the hill station’s road network faces its greatest strain.