The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) is expected to adopt the updated PC-I for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project shortly.
The provincial planning and development department has already authorized the updated PC-I, raising the project’s cost from Rs. 31.3 billion to Rs. 38.3 billion, according to a Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) official.
“After receiving approval from the CDWP, the revised PC-I will move on to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for ultimate approval,” the official stated.
In June, the province government committed Rs. 6 billion to the project. Even though the work is still in progress, delays can happen if the updated PC-I is not accepted.
The project’s completion date has been set for the end of December by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. It is anticipated that the remaining work will be completed in the upcoming six months, with 35% of the work already completed.
One aspect of the project is building a railway bridge over the Soan River, and engineers are helping to complete it despite its intricacy. Following this, the government intends to start construction on Ring Road Phase-II, which would connect Sangjani to the freeway.
The project’s cost was changed from its first approval in 2022 because of a notable rise in the cost of building materials during the previous two years.
There will be five interchanges along the 38.3 kilometer Ring Road: Baanth, Chak Baili Khan, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and Thalian. Along the road, an industrial zone is also proposed. The road has six lanes, restricted access, and a speed limit of 120 km/h.
Two routes were designed under the PTI administration, and work started on the Grand Trunk Road from Baanth to the Thalian highway. Then, in March 2022, Prime Minister Imran Khan turned the first stone at Thalian. The contract was given to Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
The PDM administration put a temporary stop to the project, but upon independent confirmation, it was restarted. The route selection process from Baanth to Thalian was carried out by a joint venture including Turkish and Pakistani enterprises.
Shortly before the PDM administration came to an end, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the report and lay the foundation stone at Rawat.
According to RDA spokesperson Muhammad Irfan, the RDA is making every effort to finish the project on schedule and anticipates that the updated PC-I will soon be approved by the CDWP.
