RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Ring Road is expected to open to traffic on October 28 or in the first week of November, with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz likely to inaugurate the long-delayed project at Banth Interchange on GT Road.
Preparations for the inauguration are under way, and officials are accelerating the remaining work to make the road operational. The ceremony is expected to take place at Banth, which marks the starting point of the route.
According to sources in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and local press reports, the 38.3-kilometre main route has been completed, along with four interchanges at Banth, Chak Beli Khan, Adiala and Chakri. The road will be opened to general traffic immediately after the inauguration, while installation of the tolling booth system is expected to be completed beforehand.
The tolling system has been transferred to the Punjab Ring Road Authority, which will be responsible for its operation and maintenance. However, the planned interchange at Thalian will be completed at a later stage. For now, the Ring Road has been connected to the motorway at Thalian without a full interchange.
ALSO READ >>> Islamabad police introduce weekly off, new leave rules for personnel
The Punjab Development Working Party has approved the project’s third revised PC-I at Rs50.4 billion, including the cost of the Thalian interchange.
The project’s original estimated cost was Rs26.9 billion, which was subsequently revised to Rs32.9 billion and then Rs46.4 billion before the latest revision.
Officials say the remaining work, particularly the installation of toll plazas and related systems, is being expedited to ensure the road can be opened after the inauguration.
