Rawalpindi Ring Road: All the news you need to start off 2021

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) remained one of the hottest topics in real estate circles during the past year — particularly in Punjab and among the overseas Pakistanis interested in the country’s property market. This popularity is not disproportionate to the impact that the project is expected to have on the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Read: RDA directed to prepare feasibility report for proposed RRR SEZ

The RRR project has a proposed length of 64 kilometres, and will start from the N-5 near Radio Pakistan in Rawat. The road will then pass through the M-1 and M-2 and end at Sangjani by crossing the N-5 to connect with Islamabad.

The road will have six lanes and eight interchanges, and its starting point near Rawat will have a wholesale fruits and vegetable market. In addition, the proposed project includes the construction of a health city, dry ports, bus and truck terminals and theme parks along the ring road’s route.

Read: RDA approves establishment of economic zones alongside RRR

The ring road is expected to have eight interchanges at the following points: Radio Pakistan, Kala Kotha, Murat, Khasala Khurd, Chakri, Fateh Jang Road, Hakla and Sangjani.

The project will be completed in three phases. Construction of the 51.7 km-long road patch linking Radio Pakistan on GT Road with Hakla on the CPEC Route will be carried out under the first phase. The second phase will involve the construction of a 9.3-kilometre road linking Hakla with the M-1, while the third phase will be centred around the construction of a 4.5-kilometer road linking the M1 with Margalla Road.

The uninitiated may dismiss the RRR as just a road, but it is set to significantly boost the economic activity in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Additionally, it will add significant value to the federal capital by resolving traffic issues at several points within the city.

More importantly from the real estate perspective, the ring road will provide a boost to a large number of housing schemes located along its route by providing their residents with easy access to all the major areas of the twin cities.

Finally, another project linked with the RRR is one involving the development of new economic zones along the road’s route. This is perhaps the most ambitious of all the ventures being undertaken for the ring road project and the paperwork in this regard has already been initiated.

Read: Process to acquire land for RRR project begins

If you are interested in the development that took place on the Rawalpindi Ring Road during 2020 and the various updates that are expected regarding the project during 2021 — read on!

December

– ICCI and RDA sign MOU for economic zones along RRR: Earlier today (December 29), the Islamabad Chambers of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) and the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) signed an MOU to work together on the establishment of economic zones along the RRR route. The economic zones will be established on a public-private partnership basis and will be part of the ICCI-Islamabad Industrial Estate.

– RDA told to begin preparing feasibility report for economic zones along RRR: The Punjab government has decided that it will establish economic zones along the RRR route in a bid to attract investment, generate economic activity, and create jobs. As a result, the authorities concerned have directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority to prepare a feasibility report for the development of economic zones along the RRR project.

– RDA had approved 10 economic zones along RRR earlier in December: These economic zones will be established on the pattern of the Faisalabad Industrial Zone. Some of the details about these zones had been shared back in October and, according to these reports, three residential zones will be established — one each near the planned interchanges on Sangjani, Adiala, and Chakri Road. Moreover, two dry ports will be established close to the road’s starting point near the Radio Pakistan Building on GT Road, Rawat.

The RRR’s Chak Beli Interchange will additionally feature a hospital and an expo centre is also expected to be constructed near the Islamabad International Airport. A theme park will further be developed between the Chakri and Morat Interchange.

Read: Punjab govt to invite open bidding for RRR project

– LRRA to execute the Rawalpindi Ring Road Project: This news is not exactly new, however, the latest on the matter is that the Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA) has prepared the draft law which will enable it to execute the Rawalpindi Ring Road project and expand its jurisdiction around the province — renaming it to the ‘Punjab Ring Road Authority’.

– Punjab Environment Protection Agency approves RRR: December began with the good news that the Punjab Environment Protection Agency has approved of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which was the final hurdle in the development of the venture.

– Work order for RRR’s construction work to be initiated in January 2021: Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan

November

– Nakreli Interchange located between Chak Beli and Adiala Road included within the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

– BOR initiates land acquisition process for RRR: In November, the Board of Revenue initiated the process of land acquisition for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project. The Punjab government released PKR 6.7 billion for the acquisition of land for the project — with a total of 14,600 kanals of land required in 27 villages.

– Punjab govt rejects FWO’s proposal for the construction of the RRR: The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) had submitted a proposal for the construction of the RRR, with an estimated cost of PKR 50.1 billion — however, this proposal was rejected by the Punjab government. Later, the government decided to conduct the entire process through competitive bidding, after inviting additional companies. While this move is expected to make the entire bidding process more competitive and lighter on public funds, it will also significantly delay the development of the project that has still not seen much work on the ground.

 Read: Cost estimates, design suggestions for RRR sought within one week

October

– Authorities consider developing rail network along Rawalpindi Ring Road.

– RDA bars commercial constructions within 100-metres of RRR

– RDA forms committee to identify location for RDA City: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) constituted a committee to identify land where the RDA City project will be located. The RDA City project has already been approved by the authorities concerned.

Located on a 3,000-kanal piece of land adjoining the RRR, RDA City will be the first-ever government residential project being developed in the city. It will feature plots sized 3, 5, 7 and 10 marlas. The project is also being developed through a comprehensive master plan — with water, sewerage, gas and power infrastructure to be installed soon. The project is also expected to accommodate government employees of the lower basic pay scale (BPS).

September

-Punjab govt issues Section 4 notification to acquire land for RRR’s Right of Way: The government of Punjab issued a notification under the Section 4 Land Acquisition Act 1894 for land falling in Rawalpindi Ring Road’s Right of Way. The land had already been marked earlier in the year.

-Mauzas falling along RRR’s route made a part of the city area

– Punjab CM approves RRR construction on PPP-basis: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar approved the construction of the RRR project on a Public-Private Partnership basis — with the venture expected to cost PKR 50 billion.

August

– PKR 6.3 billion released for acquiring RRR’s right of way

– PC-1 approved for land acquisition of RRR’s Package 1

July

– New city developments announced around Rawalpindi Ring Road: It was announced that a new city will be developed near the Rawalpindi Ring Road near Rawat. It will be spread over an area of about 6,000 acres.

– Rawalpindi Ring Road project alignment gets RDA’s approval

– Proposals were invited from private societies for construction of interchanges on RRR

June

– Authorities consider constructing interchanges on RRR with help from private societies

– PKR 61 billion earmarked for RRR in Punjab Budget

– Minister announces that Rawalpindi Ring Road project will be inaugurated within first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21

– PM directs RDA to make arrangements for RRR’s inauguration

May

– RDA sanction 6 billion for RRR’s land acquisition

– RRR to be linked with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

March

– Per kanal rate determined for mauzas falling between GT Road, Murat: The district price assessment committee announced the per kanal rates for mouzas falling on RRR’s route near GT Road, Rawat, and Mauza Murat. These rates were as follows:

Read: Land acquisition for RRR industrial zone to begin soon

– Punjab govt hands over RRR project to Lahore Ring Road Authority

– Topographic survey for RRR completed

– RRR to stretch over 100km to encircle Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Ghulam Sarwar Khan

February

– Flyovers proposed over settlements falling along RRR’s route

– ‘RRR to be completed within two years’: Commissioner

– RRR to feature NPHP development; RDA directed to find land

– PM to lay down RRR foundation stone in June

– Land identified for RRR construction; acquisition process to begin soon

January

– Traders share suggestions on setting up wholesale markets along RRR route

– RRR’s route changed once again to encircle Islamabad

– RRR: Drainage work completed; technical work underway

This was a timeline of some of the news on the Rawalpindi Ring Road that made the headlines during the past year, as well as all the various details and information that was made available to the public. While the original idea for the project is nearly 15 years old, it came to the forefront during the previous government’s tenure — with the current government making the decision to proceed with the project.

Read: RDA bans construction activity within RRR’s 100-metre radius to facilitate town planning

Now, while there hasn’t been significant work done on the project site so far, this year the venture did experience a lot of development on the planning front. In the beginning of the year, reports suggested that the project would be completed within two years; however, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic scuppered these plans. Now, work on the project is expected to be launched again in one month’s time. Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan had announced that the work order for the ring road’s construction would be initiated in January. The start of this development work is what stakeholders will be looking towards in 2021.