RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Planning and Development Board has approved a revised cost of Rs47 billion for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, increasing it from the original estimate of Rs33 billion. However, the board rejected a separate request to include an anticipated price escalation of Rs5 billion, directing that any additional cost be reviewed after project completion.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the planning board held in Lahore on January 29 under the chairmanship of Dr Naeem Rauf. According to Ring Road Deputy Project Director Ashfaq Sulheri, the revised PC I had been prepared at over Rs52 billion, but approval was granted only for Rs47 billion due to the absence of provisions for advance price escalation of construction materials.
Mr Sulheri said the Punjab government has already released Rs23 billion for the project so far, while an additional Rs14 billion is expected to be disbursed in March. He added that Rs2.5 billion was released during the current month to maintain construction momentum.
Explaining the increase in project cost, he identified flood mitigation measures, construction of the Thalian interchange, redesign of toll plazas and price escalation over the past two years as the primary factors. Safety related enhancements, including wider road shoulders, expanded drainage systems, stronger overpass pillars and cemented boundary walls, also contributed to the revised estimate.
He said the Thalian interchange alone added approximately Rs5 billion to the project cost but was essential to manage heavy traffic volumes where the Ring Road merges with the motorway. An estimated 18,000 vehicles are expected to enter the motorway daily from this junction, making the interchange critical for traffic flow and safety.
The planning board raised 29 objections before approving the revised PC I after detailed scrutiny and a technical inspection report. Mr Sulheri said construction was progressing at full pace, with over 81 per cent work completed, and the project was expected to be finished within the stipulated timeframe. The 38.3 kilometre six lane controlled access Ring Road will feature five interchanges and a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour.
