RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will start studying the feasibility of Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) Phase II after the Punjab government allocated Rs54 million for the project.
As per the report ,Director General Kinza Murtaza of RDA told with Pakistani Newspaper that work on Phase II is set to commence in the fiscal year 2025-26, with construction expected after Phase I is completed by December.
She explained that the original 66-kilometer alignment from Baanth to Sangjani in 2021 has been reduced to 38 kilometers from Baanth to Thalian.
The government has decided to proceed with connecting Ring Road to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and back to G.T. Road in Phase II.
A feasibility study will be conducted this year, and Phase II construction will start after Phase I from Baanth to Thalian is finished. An economic zone is also planned along Phase II.
Ms. Kinza mentioned that a consultant will provide a report after the feasibility study to determine if the old alignment is better.
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She also noted a suggestion by Noorul Amin Mengal from Housing and Urban Planning to acquire 500 meters of land on both sides of Phase II for transport stands and markets for grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Furthermore, plans include building an exhibition center at the CPEC and motorway junction where Chinese firms will showcase products. The firms have requested land assistance from the government but will fund the center themselves.
RDA plans to establish industrial zones along Phase II for industries that do not emit pollution, pending the feasibility study report.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has proposed a Rs17 billion project to add two lanes to the motorway from Thalian to G.T. Road to manage increased traffic expected after Phase II completion.
Ms. Kinza confirmed that NHA is already working on this lane addition to handle the rising traffic, despite RRR traffic not yet starting. She added that Ring Road construction is scheduled for completion by December.
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It’s noteworthy that during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure, the project was initially planned as a 64-kilometer road from Rawat to Sangjani via Murat.
However, due to corruption allegations, the previous PTI government stopped work and changed the alignment.
The original Rs64 billion road was 66.3 kilometers from Rewat Radio Pakistan to Thalian, then Thalian to Sangjani via Murat. The new 38.3-kilometer controlled-access road starts at Baanth on National Highway (N-5), passing through Chakbeli Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, and ends at Motorway M-2 at Thallian Interchange.
A Turkish and Pakistani joint venture recommended proceeding in two phases: Baanth to Thalian for Phase I and hiring a new consultant for Phase II from Thalian to Sangjani.
