Rawalpindi Ring Road Project Gets a New Deadline

The Punjab government has revised the PC-I of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, raising the cost from Rs. 33 billion to Rs. 50 billion after approving a new design to widen and future-proof the Thallian Interchange, which connects the project to the motorway.

Officials confirmed that about 70 percent of construction has been completed, but the project deadline has now been moved from December 2025 to March 2026. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), which is overseeing the long-delayed 38.3-kilometer project, reported steady progress across all major sections.

A large portion of the road has already been carpeted, while work on bridges, protective embankments, and remaining segments is advancing quickly along the stretch from Banth on GT Road to the Thallian Interchange.

Although Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz initially directed authorities to finish the project by December 2025, officials said the need to redesign and expand the Thallian Interchange for future traffic requirements made it impossible to meet the original deadline.

The expansion also increased total costs by Rs17 billion, resulting in a revised completion schedule for the contractor, FWO. RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza said the project remains on track for completion by March 2026, describing the Ring Road as a transformative corridor for the Rawalpindi Division.

She said the route is expected to support future economic zones, transport terminals, a fruit and vegetable market, and other major developments. She added that the RDA is actively consulting experts and stakeholders to advance these plans.