3 Routes Proposed for Rawalpindi Ring Road Phase-II

NESPAK has completed the preliminary feasibility study for Phase-II of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which will connect Thalian Interchange with Hakla Interchange under the CPEC route.

According to sources, the consultancy has prepared three alignment options for the project and will submit them, along with its recommendations, to the Punjab cabinet for approval.

The preferred option proposes widening the existing M-2 Motorway from three lanes to five lanes on each side. The 15.3-kilometre project is estimated to cost around Rs. 9 billion, making it the most practical and cost-effective solution.

The second option involves constructing a new 19.5-kilometre highway on the eastern side of the motorway at an estimated cost of Rs. 18 billion, while the third proposes a 26.5-kilometre corridor on the western side with an estimated cost of Rs. 24 billion.

According to the feasibility report, the western alignment would be the longest and most expensive option and would require extensive land acquisition. NESPAK estimates that expanding the existing motorway would reduce construction costs by 50 to 60 percent compared to building a new route.

The report also states that the option would require less land acquisition, make use of existing infrastructure, and allow the project to be completed more quickly. The feasibility study also highlights challenges related to traffic management during construction, right-of-way constraints, and interchange design.

It concludes that the expected benefits of the western alignment do not justify its significantly higher cost, making the motorway expansion the preferred option.