Rawalpindi: The timely completion of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project by December 2025 hinges on the approval of the revised Project Concept-I (PC-I), which now stands at PKR 9.32 billion. While the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has cleared the revised cost, final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is still pending.
The 38-kilometre road, designed to link Banth Mor on GT Road to the Thalian Interchange on the motorway, has faced multiple cost revisions since its inception. Initially estimated at PKR 26 billion, the project’s cost was later increased to PKR 39 billion before being adjusted to its current figure.
According to project officials, 40% of the construction has been completed, with the Punjab government recently releasing PKR 3 billion in payments. However, an additional PKR 6 billion is still outstanding, potentially affecting the construction timeline.
The project is being executed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) through its Project Management Unit (PMU), with construction being carried out by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during a recent visit to the site, instructed authorities to ensure the remaining 60% of the project is completed by December 2025.
Once completed, the Ring Road will feature five interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian, along with a railway bridge, five overpasses, and 21 subways. However, a proposed economic zone along the corridor is still awaiting approval.
The project’s successful completion is expected to ease congestion in Rawalpindi and improve connectivity between key routes, but delays in approvals and funding remain significant hurdles.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
