Rawalpindi Ring Road Project Update
The revised PC-I for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is expected to be approved soon by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). According to an official from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), the provincial planning and development department has already approved the updated PC-I, which has raised the project’s cost from Rs. 31.3 billion to Rs. 38.3 billion.
The revised PC-I has been submitted to the CDWP and, upon approval, will be forwarded to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final authorization. In June, the provincial government allocated Rs. 6 billion for the project. Despite ongoing work, there could be delays if the revised PC-I is not promptly approved.
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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set a deadline for the project’s completion by the end of December. Currently, 35% of the work is finished, with the remainder expected to be completed in the next six months. The project includes constructing a railway bridge over the Soan River, with engineers working to ensure its timely completion. Once this phase is done, the government plans to initiate work on Ring Road Phase-II, extending from the motorway to Sangjani.
Project Background
Initially approved in 2022, the project’s cost was revised due to significant increases in construction material prices over the past two years. The Ring Road will span 38.3 km and feature five interchanges at Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian. It will include an industrial zone and is designed for a speed of 120 km/h with six lanes and controlled access.
During the PTI government, two routes were planned, with construction starting from Baanth on Grand Trunk Road to Thalian on the motorway. Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone at Thalian in March 2022, and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was awarded the contract. The project faced a temporary halt under the PDM government but resumed after a third-party validation. A Turkish-Pakistani joint venture handled the route selection from Baanth to Thalian.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone at Rawat after receiving the validation report, just before the end of the PDM government. RDA spokesman Mohammad Irfan confirmed that the RDA is working diligently to complete the project on schedule and anticipates CDWP approval of the revised PC-I soon.
