The multi-billion-rupee Rawalpindi Ring Road project is over 80 percent complete, but the completion deadline has been extended to the end of April as the revised PC-I, which raises the project cost to Rs. 53 billion, is still awaiting approval from the Punjab Planning and Development Board.
A senior official said work on the Thalian Interchange, which will connect the Ring Road with the Motorway, is still pending, contributing to the revised timeline. The board’s approval is expected next week after reviewing responses to its queries regarding cost escalation.
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Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri confirmed that structural work, including all bridges and a 22-kilometre asphalt stretch, is largely complete. The total length of the Ring Road from Baanth to Thalian is 38 kilometres.
The Thalian Interchange, costing Rs5 billion, is a key addition aimed at managing traffic flow and preventing congestion on the Motorway. The cost increase in the revised PC-I also covers flood mitigation measures and higher construction material prices.
Once the revised PC-I is approved, work on the interchange will begin immediately. State-of-the-art signboards, lighting, and six- to eight-foot trees are also being installed along the road to enhance safety and aesthetics.
