The revised PC-I for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project is anticipated to be approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) soon.
An official from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) informed that the provincial planning and development department has already approved the revised PC-I, which has increased the project cost from Rs. 31.3 billion to Rs. 38.3 billion.
“The revised PC-I has been submitted to the CDWP, and upon their approval, it will proceed to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval,” the official said.
The provincial government allocated Rs. 6 billion for the project in June. Although work is ongoing, potential delays could occur if the revised PC-I is not approved.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set the project completion deadline for the end of December. Currently, 35% of the work is complete, with the remaining expected to be finished within the next six months.
The construction of a railway bridge over the Soan River is part of the project, and despite its complexity, engineers are assisting in its completion. Following this, the government plans to commence work on Ring Road Phase-II, extending from the motorway to Sangjani.
Initially approved in 2022, the project’s cost was revised due to a significant increase in construction material prices over the past two years.
The Ring Road will stretch 38.3 km and include five interchanges at Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian. An industrial zone is also planned along the road. The road is designed for a speed of 120 km/h with six lanes and controlled access.
During the PTI government, two routes were planned, and construction began from Baanth on Grand Trunk Road to Thalian on the motorway. Then Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone at Thalian in March 2022. The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was awarded the contract.
The PDM government temporarily halted the project but resumed it after a third-party validation. A joint venture between Turkish and Pakistani firms was responsible for route selection from Baanth to Thalian.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone at Rawat after receiving the report, just before the end of the PDM government.
RDA spokesman Mohammad Irfan stated that the RDA is working diligently to complete the project on time and expects the revised PC-I to receive CDWP approval soon.