RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Ring Road project has missed the December deadline set by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with officials now confirming that the long-awaited infrastructure scheme will require at least three more months to complete. Senior officials revealed that nearly 75 per cent of the work is finished, but the project is now expected to reach completion by March 2026.
According to a senior divisional administration official, multiple factors have contributed to the delay. The most significant challenge is the slowed transportation of construction stone after the provincial government enforced strict measures against overloaded vehicles on the Grand Trunk Road. “Earlier, each loader carried 8,000 cubic feet of stone; now we receive only 4,000 cubic feet,” he said, adding that the material is crucial for waterways, retaining walls and gravel layers.
The second reason for the setback is the addition of new components to the project, including the Thalian Interchange connecting the motorway and the construction of toll plazas. These were not part of the original plan and require additional engineering and resources. As a result, the revised PC-I is still awaiting approval from the Housing and Urban Development Department before being forwarded to the Planning and Development Department for final clearance and additional funding.
Officials said the updated PC-I, prepared with Nespak’s consultation, proposes increasing the project’s cost from Rs33 billion to Rs45 billion due to structural changes, inflation, and the inclusion of new interchanges. The Rawalpindi Development Authority will send the revised document to the Punjab government for approval of the escalated budget.
Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri confirmed that asphalt work has been completed on nine kilometres of the road, while over one kilometre of additional overlay has recently been added. He said lessons from previous Islamabad road projects are being applied to ensure long-lasting road quality. Work on major structures is also progressing, with the Soan Bridge completed and girder casting underway at the railway bridge site.
The 38.3-kilometre Ring Road will feature five interchanges, Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Thalian along with a six-lane, controlled-access corridor designed for speeds up to 120 km/h. An industrial zone will also be developed along the route, expected to stimulate economic activity and investment once the project becomes operational.
