The Rawalpindi Ring Road project, a major infrastructure initiative initially worth Rs26 billion, is facing delays and escalating costs. The project, revised earlier this year to Rs32.9 billion, may now increase by another 40 to 50 percent.
A senior divisional administration official said about 70 percent of the 38.3-kilometer road has been completed. However, work slowed significantly over the past month due to heavy monsoon rains. Progress is expected to pick up once the season ends.
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Rising construction material prices and higher transport costs over the last two years have forced authorities to prepare a revised PC-I, which will be sent to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and later Ecnec for approval.
Another cause of delay is the pending plan for merging traffic from Thalian to the motorway. The National Highway Authority (NHA) proposed adding two extra lanes, but its expansion project is still awaiting clearance.
To address the issue, contractor Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has offered to build a one-kilometer merger road from its own resources, with NHA later responsible for expanding the lanes.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri confirmed the project deadline will be extended but said the government will allow only a 44 percent cost increase instead of the 50 percent demanded by FWO. The project includes five interchanges at Baanth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian, where construction is ongoing.
