ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has proposed renaming T-Chowk — the busy intersection connecting G.T. Road and Islamabad Expressway — as Potohar Chowk.
According to the details, the authority stated that the current name has no significance and that the new name would better represent the identity of the Potohar region, which includes Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
NHA Calls ‘T’ Name Irrelevant, Suggests ‘Potohar Chowk’
In a letter shared with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the NHA explained that it had completed the upgrading of G.T. Road (N-5) from T-Chowk to Lalazar, officially naming it Potohar Avenue.
“The word ‘T’ has no relevance to the location, while the twin cities are the centre of the Potohar region,” the letter said.
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The NHA further recommended that for ease of commuters and better reference, T-Chowk should be renamed as Potohar Chowk.
CDA Yet to Decide on Name Change
A CDA official told Newspaper that the authority has not yet made any decision regarding the proposed name change.
“We will take up the matter with the interior ministry and the federal government after completing the ongoing flyover project,” the official said.
He added that although the current name will be replaced, the final decision will be made by the federal government.
The CDA is currently working on a Rs1.4 billion flyover project at T-Chowk to ease heavy traffic at the intersection. The 1.1-kilometre-long, three-lane flyover aims to provide smoother traffic flow for vehicles coming from Lahore towards Islamabad.
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The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month, with a target completion time of 150 days, ending in mid-February. Officials said around 52 percent of the work has been completed so far, and the CDA aims to finish by the end of January if the pace continues.
Expressway and Service Roads Need Attention
Once the flyover is complete, the CDA will move forward with widening and overhauling the Islamabad Expressway from Zero Point to T-Chowk to improve connectivity.
However, the service road from Faizabad to Koral remains in poor condition. It is riddled with potholes and damaged surfaces, causing problems for daily commuters. Thousands of residents from Sohan, Pindorian, Iqbal Town, Khanna Pul, and Ghauri Town depend on this road, but no maintenance work has been carried out yet.
Commuters have urged the CDA to prioritize the repair and maintenance of service roads to ensure smoother travel for local residents.
