A team from the Punjab Planning and Development Board is set to conduct an on site inspection of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project before a final decision is taken on the revised PC One which has raised the project cost to Rs53 billion. The inspection will play a decisive role in clearing the updated financial and technical framework of the flagship infrastructure scheme.
Senior officials of the Planning and Development Department confirmed that the revised PC One was reviewed during a recent pre Punjab Development Working Party meeting where several observations were recorded. The cost escalation was attributed to sustained increases in construction material prices over the past three years along with expanded bridge widths protective stone pitching to manage flood risks and the addition of toll plazas and remodeling of the Thalian Interchange.
According to the revised submission by the Rawalpindi Development Authority the contract was awarded to Frontier Works Organisation based on material rates of 2022. Since then prices have surged by nearly forty percent significantly impacting overall project costs. Due to these factors the planning board decided that a physical inspection of the project was necessary before approving the revised scope and budget.
RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza said the authority would address the observations raised and resubmit the revised PC One within a week. She explained that inspection visits are a routine procedure once a project crosses seventy percent completion especially when new components are added to ensure transparency and technical justification.
She added that construction is progressing at a fast pace and the project remains on track for completion within the stipulated timeline. Flood channels have been incorporated to protect the road during monsoon seasons while the Thalian Interchange upgrade was described as essential for long term traffic management and motorway connectivity.
The 38.3 kilometre Rawalpindi Ring Road will feature five interchanges at Baanth Chak Baili Khan Adiala Road Chakri Road and Thalian. Plans also include the development of an industrial zone and relocation of bus and goods terminals positioning the project as a major driver of urban mobility economic growth and regional connectivity.
