Underground Utility Overhaul Begins Along Gujar Khan GT Road Corridor

Gujar Khan is undergoing a major urban infrastructure transformation as construction teams move high-voltage electricity lines and natural gas pipelines underground along Grand Trunk (GT) Road. The multi-billion rupee project addresses decades of severe traffic bottlenecks, frequent power outages, and hazards posed by overhead utility networks across Rawalpindi district's key transit artery.

Heavy excavators and trenching crews have taken over the commercial flank of the N-5 highway through Gujar Khan, marking the start of one of the Pothohar region's most ambitious civic rehabilitation projects. For decades, the narrow stretch of GT Road passing through the heart of the city served as a bottleneck for long-distance transport between Islamabad and Lahore. Overhead high-voltage wires hanging low over freight trucks and aging surface gas distribution pipes had severely constrained road expansion initiatives.

Engineering Precision: Rerouting High-Voltage Cables and SNGPL Mains

The technical core of the project involves relocating infrastructure managed by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) into reinforced subterranean conduits. Field crews are laying heavy-duty insulated 11kV electrical cables and high-density polyethylene gas mains inside heavy concrete trenches parallel to the main carriageway.

By burying these utilities beneath the surface, contractors eliminate the risk of accidental cable snaps caused by oversized commercial trucks, a recurring hazard during heavy monsoon storms in Rawalpindi district . Civil engineers are utilizing horizontal directional drilling at major intersections to minimize surface destruction and avoid prolonged disruptions to the daily flow of commercial traffic.

Unclogging Sher Shah Suri's Arterial Route Between Rawalpindi and Jhelum

The N-5 highway, built along the historic route established by Sher Shah Suri, handles over 45,000 vehicles daily through Gujar Khan. The presence of surface-level utility poles previously narrowed the usable road width by nearly twelve feet on either side, forcing intercity buses, heavy freight rigs, and local shoppers into a single congested lane.

Local merchant associations have long campaigned for the removal of these surface hazards. Business owners along the main bazaar stretch routinely experienced severe revenue losses due to total gridlock during peak business hours. The utility relocation enables the National Highway Authority (NHA) to execute a full dual-carriageway expansion, adding dedicated service lanes and structured parking plazas for commercial establishments.

Safety, Aesthetics, and Civic Renewal for Pothohar Residents

Beyond traffic management, the subterranean shift introduces critical safety upgrades for the dense urban population living along the highway corridor. Dangling high-tension wires had caused numerous electrocution incidents and transformer fires during severe weather events in recent years.

Undergrounding the power distribution grid stabilizes electrical voltage for nearby residential sectors and protects critical municipal feeder lines from severe weather exposure. Local urban planning authorities expect the resulting clean skyline to stimulate commercial real estate investment along the revamped boulevard, positioning Gujar Khan as a modernized transit hub between Rawalpindi and Jhelum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific utility networks are being shifted underground along GT Road in Gujar Khan?

Construction teams are burying Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) high-voltage power cables and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) delivery mains underground. This removes hazard-prone overhead wires and surface-level gas conduits within the project limits along the N-5 highway corridor.

How does relocating power and gas lines help resolve traffic congestion in Gujar Khan?

Shifting utilities into subterranean trenches clears approximately twelve feet of space on both sides of the highway previously blocked by utility poles. This enables the National Highway Authority to widen GT Road into a proper dual carriageway with dedicated service lanes.

Which state entities are executing this infrastructure project?

The project is being jointly coordinated by the National Highway Authority (NHA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), and the Rawalpindi district administration.