The Punjab government expects to open the Rawalpindi Ring Road to traffic within the next month as construction enters its final phase. Work resumed after a brief pause caused by a dispute over an alleged no-objection certificate (NOC) related to a proposed roadside rest area.
According to a senior district administration official, the 38-kilometre Ring Road, which connects Baanth on the Grand Trunk Road with Thalian on the motorway, has been largely completed. However, several finishing works, including interchange ramps, drainage infrastructure, and roadside fencing, are still underway before the project is officially opened.
Officials said construction teams are expected to complete the interchange ramps at Chakri, Khasala, and Chak Beli Khan within the next one to two weeks. At the same time, workers are building drainage channels at various locations to improve water flow and reduce the risk of flooding during the ongoing monsoon season.
Work is also progressing on security measures along the Ring Road. Around 70 percent of the concrete fencing pillars have already been installed, while crews continue placing barbed wire along the route. Authorities plan to prohibit pedestrian crossings and unauthorized vehicle access, following a system similar to Pakistan’s motorways. The move aims to enhance road safety and prevent illegal commercial encroachments.
Meanwhile, the foundations for toll plazas have already been completed. The Punjab Ring Road Authority will now oversee the construction of the remaining toll facilities, install a computerized toll collection system, and manage toll operations for private vehicles, public transport, and commercial goods carriers under a model similar to the Lahore Ring Road.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri said the Ring Road project has reached its final stage and that the latest progress report has already been submitted to the Punjab government. He added that the provincial government will soon announce the official inauguration date once the remaining work is completed. The Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to significantly improve traffic flow, reduce congestion within the city, and provide faster connectivity between major highways and surrounding areas.
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